Island Willow Farm

Where Nature, Beauty and Creativity Grow

Island Willow Farm grows and offers a selection of 12 shrub willow varieties for planting.  With each dormant 12” willow cutting, you have the opportunity to cultivate a thriving bush.  Once established and with annual coppicing, each bush will reach its full height, each growing season.  With longer cuttings, you have the opportunity to create a living structure.

The longer cuttings, planted for living structures such as; fedges, tunnels, arbors, domes, and shelters, for shade or wind protection, will add so much more experiential and function to your garden for years to come.  Longer cuttings are currently available for these eight varieties: Natural Red, Juane de Falaise, Jagiellonka, Harrison, Black Maul, Noir de Touraine, Hutchinson Red and Britzensis. Details can be found on those varietal’s specific page. 

ORDERS for short cuttings can be shipped, pick-up at the farm, or at the announced seasonal pick-up location, date at time.

ORDERS for long cuttings are currently only available for pick-up or at the announced seasonal pick-up location, date at time.

We begin taking orders for willow cuttings in November each year, and we harvest your order by hand in late winter, during dormancy. Your order will be carefully packaged and promptly shipped or picked up, to ensure successful growth and establishment, taking advantage of your spring conditions.

WONDERS OF WILLOW EVENT

Thank you to all those who participated in the WOW EVENT. Shoutout to Erin of Field and Forest Crafts and Sky Nursery for having us. For future willow events that we are participating in, please sign up for our newsletter (scroll down this page).

Logo for Wonders of Willow, featuring three stylized leaves in blue, green, and brown.

Willow Cuttings

12 varieties are currently available.

Close-up of tall, slender red and brown dormant willow rods. Snow can be seen on the ground. Tall evergreen trees are in the background.
A greenhouse pathway lined by tall willow plants, set in a natural outdoor environment with a paved walkway leading to it.
A grassy path flanked by two rows of tall green willow shrubs, with a fig tree in the distance under a partly cloudy blue sky.
Shop the Varieties

Natural Red

The farmer woman is smiling at the camera, holding bundles freshly cut, dormant willow rods. She is outdoors in a field with evergreen trees and a cloudy sky in the background.

Our Farm

Island Willow Farm is located on San Juan Island (SJI), WA, one of the 75 named islands that form an archipelago in the Salish Sea. This region lies in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, nestled between Washington State and Vancouver Island, BC, Canada. It is comprised of hundreds of islands, reefs, and rocks, with only a few dozen islands being inhabited. The largest four islands are serviced by the Washington Department of Transportation’s Ferry Service. It is a beautiful and tranquil place to live and care for our farm and the environment.

Our journey with willow began with a blending of our backgrounds in commercial and landscape design, business development and farming. Our parent farm, Briarwood Farm, produces egg, beef and vegetables which are only sold locally. Our commitment to sustainable and organic practices is woven into every aspect of our farming operations. Over a decade ago, we were captivated by the remarkable attributes of willow, its strong and graceful beauty, and our ideal conditions for propagation.

Willows belong to the remarkable genus Salix and are highly valued for their numerous environmental and practical benefits, including their contributions to sustainability. Willows beautiful presence throughout every season is a marvel to witness, offering experiential delight year-round. We have found a profound connection and meaning from the plant and delight in it’s impact to our environment and those who work with willow. Growers, weavers and artisans alike attest to the special bond they experience with willow.

Willows are recognized for their rapid growth and ability to thrive in diverse environments, making them a favored choice in landscaping and for environmental projects like soil erosion control, water filtration, and carbon sequestration. Willow also provides essential habitats for wildlife. Since we started growing willow, the improvements to our land and increase in biodiversity have been some of the most rewarding aspects of our efforts. We invite you to explore our offering and we look forward to supporting you as you start or continue your journey with willow.

With gratitude, Kathleen

 
Young green plant with broad leaves growing in a hole in the ground surrounded by dry straw or grass.
Island Willow Farm's rows of willow in late spring. The rods are over a foot tall and full of bright green leaves. A greenhouse is in the distance behind the rows of willow. The area is surrounded by an evergreen forested background.
A young girl wearing a purple hat and a colorful dress stands among tall green plants in a garden or farm.
Tall green willow rods with narrow leaves growing in a field, with the sun visible behind the plants and a partly cloudy sky.
Close-up of green willow leaves on a few rods of the willow plant against a blue sky.
Double rainbow over an island with green trees, reflected in a body of water during sunset. Gentle waves from the ferry boat interact with the curves of the rainbows.