Tree ID - growing in NY

2 years ago

Hi all! I see this tree sometimes when I go for a walk and there's something about it that makes me really like it. It's growing in Z5 CNY. We've had some serious wind storms recently and there were many small branches down, so I picked up a couple to stick in water. I'm assuming they'll sprout and help with an ID. I find the texture interesting... the bark and branches are silky smooth and supple near the ends, but a little further back on the branches and the bark is peeling. Photos I got:

I like the "curly" branches!

Ignore the green stuff in the foreground -- this was my view of the tree trunk and the bark without seeming like a creep going into someone else's yard to photograph their tree. lol!

Here are the end portions of a small branch that was down. Can anyone identify the tree from these photos?

Featured Answer

floraluk2

2 years ago

You may well be correct. But I don't know what else it might be. Perhaps you can go back when it leafs out.

If you coppice your willow it will never achieve the mature bark of the tree in the photo. And the yellow growth on yours is all young. Willows grown for coloured stems are coppiced regularly precisely because the young growth is brightest. If a willow is left to its own devices it will not show the bright colouring.

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Comments (6)

floraluk2
2 years ago
Salix matsudana 'Tortuosa'. Curly or Corkscrew Willow.
party_music50 thanked floraluk2
party_music50
Original Author
2 years ago
Floral, I’m not sure about that, only because I grow a curly willow and coppice it every year. When it’s growing, mine looks very much like the one shown here Corkscrew willow. It doesn‘t look or feel like the tree in question and I’m very sensitive to those textures because I grow and weave basketry willows. This wreath is dried but it’s my curly willow overwrapping my Green Dicks willow. Could the tree be the same thing and have such a different color and texture?
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party_music50
Original Author
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
I haven't cut my curly willow yet and I just did my best to get a photo near the ends of the branches to compare with the tree branch photos. This is very different in texture and color when compared to the tree branches. The tree branches are more brittle and break easily in places.
party_music50
Original Author
2 years ago
Thanks, floral. It's good to know that 'curly willow' seems to be the only possibility! When I first saw the tree last autumn I thought it might be curly willow but then the leaves I could see seemed too small. It was only when I was able to closely inspect the fallen branches yesterday that really made me think it was something else. The texture of the tree branch ends is different from what I grow.... these smaller tree branches are closer to a weeping willow in texture. Even on the newest growth, the bark color is very different. I did trim several of the tree branches and put them in water, so if they sprout I'll post pics.
floraluk2
2 years ago
Yes. Do keep us posted. Intriguing.
party_music50 thanked floraluk2