50 Austree Hybrid Willow Tree Fast Growing Cuttings The photos you see in this listing are for presentation. primary photo = cuttings you will receive will look similar to this. photo #2 = we suggest to immediately put the cuttings in about 6 inches of water (vase is not included in purchase). photos #3/#4/#5 = these photos was taken 7-10 days after putting the cuttings into water and kept at around 70 degrees. cuttings are approx 8 inches each cuttings are ready to root immediately ready to plant in 1-4 weeks Austree willows can easily grow 5 - 15 feet per year perfect for windbreaks, hedges, shade tree, erosion control Austree is a cross between Hankow willow, Salix matsudana and white willow, Salix alba EACH PURCHASE IS FOR 50 CUTTINGS, each cutting approx 8 inches. Hybrid Willow trees are the perfect fast growing windbreak and privacy hedge row tree. They are great for shade trees as well. They are nontoxic to livestock, in fact, many people feed the fast growing branches to goats and sheep for extra forage. The photos you see are for demonstration purposes. The item you will be receiving are cuttings with all leaves having been stripped off. Our Austree Willow Tree Hybrids are extremely fast growing, and can easily grow 10 - 15 feet per year with little to no care. The Hybrid Willow is ideal for almost all soil conditions. They do love water and will grow much faster if they are watered frequently or if planted near flowing water that the roots can access. If watered once a week we have seen them grow more than 15 feet in one year under the right conditions. These conditions include but are not limited to having adequate water, sun, and fertile soil. These cuttings can be grown into individual free standing shade trees or bushy hedges, the difference is only in how you trim them. Since the cuttings are cut on both ends they will naturally branch out multiple branches into a bushy hedge type shape, however you can simply eliminate all but one main branch and it will grow into a straight tree trunk. We suggest planting them 3-6 feet apart for a hedge row, and a minimum of 15 feet if you want them to grow into single trunk "normal" shade trees. The 8 inch cuttings you receive will have been stripped of leaves for shipping, this does not hurt them at all. After you receive your package, you will need to immediately put the cuttings into about 6-10 inches of water with the thicker part of the stem in the downward position. They generally start rooting in 5 to 10 days depending on temperature, and are usually ready to plant in the ground in about 14 - 30 days or once the roots are approximately one inch long. You can however leave the cuttings in your container with water for weeks (we have kept them as long as 25 weeks in just water, remember to keep adding water to their container to maintain the same level). The advantage to buying them NOW is that you can root them for an extended period of time and have very well established roots by late winter when you are ready to plant them.