'Sekka' is a cultivar of S. undensis , a deciduous, flowering shrub in the willow family. The parent plant typically matures to 20 to 30 feet tall with an upright, spreading habit. 'Sekka', on the other hand, is a large, rounded, deciduous, multi-stemmed shrub which typically grows 10 to 15 feet tall with an equal width and an upright, spreading habit. 'Sekka' is often called Japanese fantail willow. This vigorous ornamental willow is known for its curiously flattened, recurved stems (called fasciated) that can be used in floral arrangements. 'Sekka' grows best in average, medium to wet soils in full sun to part shade. It prefers moist soils in full sun, but will tolerate a range of soil types. 'Sekka' is an all-male cultivar with weak wood that may need support. However, its ornamental value may outweigh these challenges. It is a vigorous spreader and will eventually form a large, dense thicket. ‘Sekka’ must be propagated by grafting or cutting. Some newly developed plants may take 3 to 4 years before the unique fasciated stems begins to appear. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: Susceptible blights and cankers and many insect pests including aphids, scale and borers. The 'Sekka' cultivar is resistant to plant pathogens such as rust. More information on Salix .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in. | Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Multi-stemmed; Rounded; Spreading
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire; Undulate
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
4 to 6 inch alternate, simple, leaves with purplish red buds and yellow fall color. Narrow lanceolate leaves (to 4 to 6 inches long) are dark green above but blue-green and slightly hairy beneath, with entire to wavy margins.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Gray/Silver
Flower value
Good Cut; Showy
Flower form
Catkin
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
A male plant that produces grayish 1 1/2 inch catkins in early spring that mature to soft yellow. Yellow anthers appear along reddish-purple stems in early spring before the foliage emerges.
Bloom time
Spring
Stem color
Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Purplish-red (fasciated) stems (stems that are joined abnormally in a flattened arrangement—hence "fantail") are highly prized by Ikebana flower arrangers.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Japan and far eastern Russia including the Sakhalin Islands
Wildlife value
Members of the Salix genus support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Parandrena) andrenoides, Andrena (Thysandrena) bisalicis, Andrena (Tylandrena) erythrogaster, Andrena (Andrena) frigida, Andrena (Micrandrena) illinoiensis, Andrena (Andrena) macoupinensis, Andrena (Trachandrena) mariae, Andrena (Parandrena) nida, Andrena (Micrandrena) nigrae, Andrena (Micrandrena) salictaria, Andrena (Parandrena) wellesleyana.