Create Your Garden

Salix alba var. vitellina ‘Britzensis’ (Scarlet Willow)

Scarlet Willow, Coral Bark Willow, Salix alba 'Britzensis', Salix alba 'Chermesina', Salix alba subsp. vitellina 'Britzensis'

AGM Award
Salix alba var. vitellina 'Britzensis', Scarlet Willow, Coral Bark Willow, Salix alba 'Britzensis', Salix alba 'Chermesina', Salix alba subsp. vitellina 'Britzensis', Deciduous Shrubs, Foliage, Fall color, Winter color, Red bark, Coral Bark
Salix alba var. vitellina 'Britzensis', Scarlet Willow, Coral Bark Willow, Salix alba 'Britzensis', Salix alba 'Chermesina', Salix alba subsp. vitellina 'Britzensis', Deciduous Shrubs, Foliage, Fall color, Winter color, Red bark, Coral Bark
Salix alba var. vitellina 'Britzensis', Scarlet Willow, Coral Bark Willow, Salix alba 'Britzensis', Salix alba 'Chermesina', Salix alba subsp. vitellina 'Britzensis', Deciduous Shrubs, Foliage, Fall color, Winter color, Red bark, Coral Bark

Noted for its colorful stems and stunning winter display, Salix alba var. vitellina ‘Britzensis’ (Scarlet Willow) is a medium-sized deciduous tree, often grown as a multi-stemmed shrub. It sports bright, red to orange-red new stems that glow throughout winter, seeming to intensify as spring approaches. In spring and summer, it bears narrow, lanceolate, finely-toothed leaves that usually turn yellow in the fall, before falling to the ground and revealing the spectacular stems. Its showy catkins are large and yellow. Regarded as one of the finest large, upright willows with colored bark, ‘Britzensis’ is a great addition to the winter garden.

  • Winner of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society
  • Grows quickly up to 15-70 ft. high (4-21 m) and 10-40 ft. across (3-12 m). This plant can produce 6-8 ft. (180-240 cm) of new growth in one growing season! If not pruned severely, it can eventually mature into a large shrub or medium size tree.
  • Performs best in full sun to part shade, in average, moist, well-drained soils. It is not fussy about soils provided they are kept evenly moist and well-drained.
  • Easy to grow, easy to care for and deer tolerant. Watch for aphids, caterpillars, leaf beetles, sawflies or rust.
  • Great for shrub borders or as an informal hedge or privacy screen. Great for erosion control, along streams or ponds, for coastal gardens.
  • Propagate by softwood cuttings in early summer or hardwood cuttings in winter
  • While pruning is not required, it should be noted that the best winter stem color appears on new growth. For the best display, cut the stems close to the ground every year in early spring, just as the leaf buds start to swell. This radical pruning, however, means that you will have a bare spot in the garden for a few weeks. Alternatively, if severe pruning seems to onerous, one third or one half of the oldest stems could be pruned in early spring of each year, to stimulate the growth of new stems.
  • Salix alba species is native to Europe, North Africa and Central Asia.
  • Find where this species is invasive in the United States.
  • Discover beautiful U.S. native plant alternatives.

Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 9
Heat Zones 1 - 9
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A2, A3
Plant Type Shrubs
Plant Family Salicaceae
Genus Salix
Common names Willow
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height 15' - 70' (4.6m - 21.3m)
Spread 10' - 40' (3m - 12.2m)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance Deer, Wet Soil
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Hedges And Screens, Ponds And Streams
Garden Styles Prairie and Meadow, Informal and Cottage, Coastal Garden, Traditional Garden
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Salix (Willow)
Guides with
Salix (Willow)
Not sure which Salix (Willow) to pick?
Compare Now

Alternative Plants to Consider

Salix lasiandra (Shining Willow)
Salix exigua (Coyote Willow)
Salix lasiolepis (Arroyo Willow)
Salix nigra (Black Willow)
Salix purpurea (Purple Willow)
Salix gracilistyla ‘Mount Aso’ (Japanese Pink Pussy Willow)

Recommended Companion Plants

Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’ (Wintercreeper)
Cornus sericea ‘Cardinal’ (Redtwig Dogwood)
Betula utilis var. jacquemontii ‘Grayswood Ghost’ (Himalayan Birch)
Erica carnea ‘December Red’ (Winter Heath)
Pennisetum alopecuroides (Fountain Grass)
Festuca glauca ‘Blaufuchs’ (Blue Fescue)

Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens

An Eye-Catching Winter Border Idea with Colorful Twigs and Cyclamens
Pussy Willow: The Ultimate Guide to Growing and Caring for This Spring Beauty
Small Trees and Shrubs That Attract Birds
Green Canopy, Better World: Exploring the Benefits of Trees
Trees that Invite Wildlife to Your Garden
Create a Garden with Great Winter Interest
Native Plant Alternatives to Salix babylonica (Weeping Willow)
Native Plant Alternatives to Salix alba (White Willow)
Shrubs and Trees with Colorful and Distinctive Twigs in Winter
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Buy Plants

Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 9
Heat Zones 1 - 9
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A2, A3
Plant Type Shrubs
Plant Family Salicaceae
Genus Salix
Common names Willow
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height 15' - 70' (4.6m - 21.3m)
Spread 10' - 40' (3m - 12.2m)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance Deer, Wet Soil
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Hedges And Screens, Ponds And Streams
Garden Styles Prairie and Meadow, Informal and Cottage, Coastal Garden, Traditional Garden
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Salix (Willow)
Guides with
Salix (Willow)
Not sure which Salix (Willow) to pick?
Compare Now

Gardening Ideas

Plant Calculator

How many Salix alba var. vitellina ‘Britzensis’ (Scarlet Willow) do I need for my garden?

Input your garden space dimensions

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Salix alba var. vitellina ‘Britzensis’ (Scarlet Willow) N/A Buy Plants

Please Login to Proceed

You Have Reached The Free Limit, Please Subscribe to Proceed

Subscribe to Gardenia

To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of Gardenia
  • Add as many plants as you wish
  • Create and save up to 25 garden collections
Become a Member

Plant Added Successfully

You have Reached Your Limit

To add more plants, you must be a paid member of our site Become a Member

Update Your Credit
Card Information

Cancel

Create a New Collection

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

    You have been subscribed successfully

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Find your Hardiness Zone

    Find your Heat Zone

    Find your Climate Zone