Most willows are trees for large, wet spaces. 'Scarlet Curls' is something different: a manageable weeping specimen topping out at twenty-five to thirty-five feet with a narrower fifteen to twenty-five foot spread, adapted to any soil type without amendment, and genuinely ornamental year-round. Young stems emerge a vivid scarlet red, spiraling upward; as the branches age they shift to golden yellow, giving the canopy a two-tone quality in winter that is highly effective against gray skies. The post-frost intensification of color is worth planning for.

Cut stems work beautifully in arrangements, either fresh or dried, and the tree's willingness to regenerate from hard pruning makes it a good candidate for periodic rejuvenation. Grow in full sun on moist, well-drained soil, and take the same precautions about root placement near pipes that apply to all willows. The deer resistance and drought tolerance give it a wider range of uses than most of its relatives — pond-side is traditional, but 'Scarlet Curls' also works as a specimen at the back of a mixed border or property edge.