Scarlet Willow (salix alba 'Chermesina')

• Striking bright scarlet-orange to red young stems that provide excellent winter colour (especially in full sun).
• Fast-growing, fully hardy, and RHS Award of Garden Merit winner. 
• Tolerates wet, poorly drained, or temporarily flooded soils; good for wildlife (spring catkins for pollinators) and suitable for hedges, screens, or pollarding.
• Easy to keep compact by regular pruning/coppicing, which maximises the colourful new growth.

• When: ALate autumn to early spring (when ground is not frozen or waterlogged).
• Position: Full sun (best stem colour); tolerates partial shade and exposed/coastal sites.
• Soil: Moist to wet, fertile soil (clay, loam, sand); prefers damp conditions and tolerates flooding; most pH levels acceptable (avoid very dry or pure chalk). Incorporate organic matter (compost/manure) at planting.
• Size: Can reach 10–15 m+ tall and 6–10 m spread if unpruned; easily maintained at 1–5 m by coppicing/pollarding. Allow space or plant as hedge (spacing ~45 cm for hedging).
• Planting tips: Dig a hole wide enough for roots; plant at same depth as nursery; firm soil, water well, and mulch. Stake taller specimens for the first few years. Avoid planting near buildings, drains, or foundations (vigorous roots).
• Aftercare: Water regularly in the first 1–2 years during dry spells. Coppice or hard-prune every 1–2 years in late winter/early spring for brightest stems. Generally low-maintenance once established.

Photo credit: Sten Porse, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped)