Willow Hybrid
Salix x 'Austree'
- Stay Protected with Plant Sentry ™
Willow Hybrid - 1-2 Feet Bareroot is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry is designed to protect both consumers and the nursery trade from invasive plant pests and diseases. Sites that display the Plant Sentry protection badge are protected from consumers buying and nurseries shipping material carrying invasive pests and diseases.
This proprietary eCommerce software prevents the shipment of a restricted plant to each state. The Plant Sentry system includes a shipment certification program. The Plant Sentry Compliance Officer works closely with NatureHills.com and each nursery or fulfillment center to ensure only compliant plants are sold to customers.
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Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Shipping
To obtain a more accurate shipment time-frame, simply enter your zip code in the “Find Your Growing Zone” box to the right. Our plants are grown all over the country and lead time on items may be different because of this. Once your order is placed, you will also receive the specific shipment time-frame information as part of your order confirmation. Once an item ships, you will receive shipment notification and tracking numbers, so you can follow along while your plant travels to your doorstep. We use FedEx, UPS, or USPS at our discretion.
Due to winter weather we have put a hold on shipping to the areas shown below in grey. You can still order now and we will ship the plant to you during an appropriate time for your zone.
Standard Shipping Rates
At Nature Hills we handle, package and ship the products you order with the utmost care to ensure healthy delivery. Shipping and handling charges are calculated based on the tables below. Please note that some items include an additional handling surcharge, these will be noted on the item's product page.
From | To | S&H |
---|---|---|
$0 | $19.99 | $24.99 |
$20 | $49.99 | $29.99 |
$50 | $69.99 | $34.99 |
$70 | $99.99 | $39.99 |
$100 | $129.99 | $44.99 |
$130 | $149.99 | $48.99 |
$150 | $150+ | Approx 28% |
Click here to see our full rates
Understanding Plant Options
Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:
- Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
- Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements
Container Plant Sizes
Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.
Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)
Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
---|---|---|
2" x 2" x 3" | 0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts | 0.20 - 0.23 dry liters |
4" Container | 0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts | 0.35 - 0.96 dry liters |
4.5" Container | 0.65 dry quarts | 0.72 dry liters |
6" Container | 1.4 dry quarts | 1.59 dry liters |
1 Quart | 1 dry quart | 1.1 dry liters |
5.5" Container | 1.89 dry quarts | 2.08 dry liters |
Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)
Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
---|---|---|
2 Quart | 2 dry quarts | 2.2 dry liters |
#1 Container | 2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts | 2.49 - 4.11 dry liters |
5" x 5" x 12" | 3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts | 3.85 - 4.74 dry liters |
Mature Plants (2-4 years old)
Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
---|---|---|
#2 Container | 1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons | 5.24 - 7.75 dry liters |
#3 Container | 2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons | 8.14 - 12.16 dry liters |
Large Plants (3-5 years old)
Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
---|---|---|
#5 Container | 2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons | 12.86 - 20.35 dry liters |
#6 Container | 5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons | 23.12 - 26.42 dry liters |
#7 Container | 5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons | 26.34 - 28.76 dry liters |
Bare Root Plants
Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.
Common Sizes:
- Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
- Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet
Important Notes
Container Volume Specifications
- Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
- Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
- Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents
Growing Conditions
- Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
- Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
- Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment
Seasonal Availability
- Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
- Container plants are available throughout the growing season
- Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes
Questions?
For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.
Plant Highlights
Willow Hybrid highlights at a glance!
Specifications
Specifications
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Brand
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Botanical Name
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Growing Zones
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Mature Height
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Mature Spread
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Sun ExposureFull Sun
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Moisture
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Soil
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Growth RateFast
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Flower Color
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Fall Color
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Pollinator Friendly
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Pruning Time
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Bloom PeriodLate Spring

Growing Zones 4-9
Austree Willow Hybrid Tree Grows 6-10 Feet a Year!
- Super-Fast Grower
- Wonderfully Thick Privacy Screen
- Disease and Pest Resistant
- Also Known as Austree
- Effective Sound Barrier
- Get Privacy All Year Long When Planted Close Together
- Controls Soil Erosion
- Controls Wind and Snow
We've all been there. The next-door neighbor just can't keep their garage workshop tidy. The vacant lot next door was sold to a convenience store chain. The old chain-link fence doesn't really "float your boat". Your teenage daughter loves to have her friends over to swim in your new above-ground pool.
If you need a dense privacy screen YESTERDAY, then this is a great solution. You'll get a living green wall by the end of the first season.
Even as a young, newly planted tree, Willow Hybrid (Salix mutsudana x Salix alba 'Austree') grows an amazing 6-10 feet a year. Once it's established in your soil, it can put on as much as 15 feet in a single growing season. That is fast!
People also call this tree Austree Willow and Hybrid Willow. Whatever you call it, if you need a super speedy privacy screen (and receive enough rainfall in your area), this is your tree!
One of the Speediest Trees for Sale
Planted in full sun or part shade and given plenty of water, this Willow will block any undesirable view you have in as little as a year.
We recommend that you plant it where it can grow and develop naturally to reach its mature height and spread. After all, you don't want to make more work for yourself!
Large, hedge-like plantings can screen out neighbors or unsightly views. They block wind, screen out ugly views, reduce dust, and reduce noise.
The Willow Hybrid is a deciduous tree that drops its leaves in the winter. However, even the branches are an effective privacy hedge and windbreak all season long. Just follow our planting guidelines:
For a dense privacy screen this year, plant them 3 feet apart in single rows.
For a windbreak, plant a double staggered row 5 feet apart using a zig-zag pattern.
Nature Hills Austree Willow Hybrid trees are not invasive or messy. They won't sucker, colonize or set seed all over the place. Instead, you'll just enjoy a fine-textured plant that grows super-fast and blocks wind and ugly views for you.
You'll love the graceful, soft look of this tree. It will add a lot of motion to your landscape, as the wind plays through the leaves. Order enough to complete your project today - we WILL sell out of inventory of this popular tree.
How to Use Willow Hybrid in the Landscape
This is a versatile tree that works hard to provide beautiful privacy. No one ever said these plants needed to be planted in a straight row, but many people chose to do so.
Plant them along an existing fence to easily and quickly extend the height. Or, create a living fence from scratch for a fraction of the cost of traditional fencing.
Stop soil erosion on slopes and ditches very quickly by planting Austree Willow Hybrid.
For a more natural look, plant Hybrid Willow Hybrid in wide, undulating drifts on large open areas. Just vary the space between plants, going from as close as 4 -5 feet, or as far apart as 10 - 15 feet. You'll also vary the number of trees used. Plant two or three trees in some areas, then go back to a single curving row.
To effectively block wind, dust, and snow, leave a few places open with no plants. That's where the snow will accumulate, so plan to put these open areas well out of your way.
You can also use this tree 30 feet from your driveway to block the prevailing winds. It will help reduce the amount of snow you'll need to shovel. Big bonus!
Specially developed to be a very fast-growing plant, everyone soon realized that it makes an incredible windbreak or plant to include in a shelterbelt because of that fast rate of growth.
Farmers and ranchers have been known to plant a row of this tree, along with a slower-growing row of Norway Spruce to get both fast results and long-term protection from the wind and snow.
Fill any voids or holes in a mixed planting bed with this fast-growing plant. You'll appreciate the soft, green look. The small leaves resemble those of one of its parents, the beautiful Salix matsudana.
This nice tree has bright green new growth in early spring. Try it in a Rain Garden to help capture and filter runoff water on low-lying areas of your property.
Or, line the edges of a water feature with these pretty plants. They'll perform beautifully and add a wonderfully mellow vibe. They'll act as beautiful supporting actors for more colorful water garden perennials.
#ProPlantTips for Care
Extremely pest and disease-resistant, the Willow Hybrid is hardy from Canada to Florida and can thrive in almost any soil. It's trouble-free and will work in extreme temperatures from cold to hot.
Austree Willow Hybrid is a cross between the Salix alba (White Willow) and Salix matsudana (Chinese Willow). From its parents, the Austree has upright branches, fast growth, and narrow leaves that are light green with a lighter underside.
Hybrid Willows do appreciate good moisture to put on the maximum amount of growth and to remain stress-free. Medium moisture is best, at least an inch of water a week. This plant can tolerate wetter areas better than most.
Keep the lowest branches on the tree!
In fact, if you want to encourage more lower branches, just cut the plant back after the first season on your ground. Let the new growth pop up again quickly from the established rootstock. Cutting the plants back after the first season will generate low branching which is most desired for snow fencing or windbreaks.
Don't plant Austree Willow Hybrid near your septic or drainage fields as the root system may be aggressive in some areas. It's wonderful in open, exposed areas for offering some wind protection and screening.
Give it plenty of room to reach its mature size. Don't plant them too close to your house, give them at least 40 feet of room.
Add a tremendous amount of value to your home with a soft, green living wall. If you see this tree in stock online, place your order right now! You don't want to miss out.