What is the difference between living, fresh cut/green, semi-dry and brown (dry) willow?
31 December 2025
It is essential to choose the ‘state’ of your willow when you buy it, based on the project you are embarking on.
So what is the difference between living, fresh-cut/green, semi-dry, and brown (dry) willow?
Living willow
Living willow is willow that has been recently harvested (after leaf-off in late winter through to early spring) and has been placed in water to keep it alive.
It is designed for planting living willow structures, sculptures, or harlequin trees and cloud screens (or similar). It can be purchased as weighed bundles, or in kit form (with or without instructions):
- living willow arbour kit
- living willow fence kit (called fedges)
- living willow dome kit (sometimes called wigloos)
- living willow tunnel kit
Fresh cut/green willow
Fresh-cut/green willow is willow that has been recently harvested (again, after leaf off in late winter through to early spring), but it is not placed in water, as the intention is for it to begin to dry out.
The colours are particularly vibrant in fresh-cut/green willow. Rods are very flexible and do not require soaking. The colour and thickness of the rod can vary significantly by variety. As they dry, the colour changes and develops.
It is flexible enough for hoops, hurdles, or creating gentle curves (for plant tunnel supports, obelisks, etc.). It is not suitable for basketry weaving, as it continues to lose moisture and will shrink further.
Fresh-cut green willow is ideal for seasonal, short-lived projects such as winter/Christmas wreaths, where shrinkage is not an issue.
It may not be suitable for planting, depending on when it was cut and how long it has been stored before sale. There is no guarantee it will strike if planted.
Semi-dry willow
Semi-dry willow is willow which is between green and dried. It is partway through the drying process and must be fully and correctly dried before storage, or mould will develop. All our semi-dry willow will eventually be sold as brown (dried) willow.
It may still be flexible enough for hoops, hurdles, or creating gentle curves, but it is not suitable for basketry weaving, as it continues to lose moisture and will shrink further.
There is usually a pause in sales in late spring/early summer to allow the drying process to take place and avoid the need to dry willow at home before storage. It also reduces the risk of mould developing on stored willow that has not been thoroughly dried first.
Brown willow
Brown willow is willow that has been thoroughly dried, with its colour fully developed and no moisture remaining. The term ‘brown’ refers to it being dried out, not its final colour, and it actually comes in many different colours.
Brown willow is available in a range of varieties, heights, and bundle sizes.
It has no flexibility and cannot be woven in its dry state. It can be rehydrated and used for basketry; there is no more shrinkage, and there is no risk of mould developing if stored in the correct conditions.
Brown Willow Soaking and Mellowing Help and Advice
Unwrapping willow upon arrival
If you order willow from Musgrove Willows, your willow should always be unwrapped immediately upon arrival. If you have ordered living willow, it must be placed immediately in water to keep it alive.
Whilst we ship our willow in a bio-based stretch film wrap, your willow should never be stored in it – or any similar covering that inhibits its ‘breathing’.
We have a handy video about unwrapping your living willow on arrival – the same tips apply to unwrapping any semi-dry or dry willow.
What time of year are the different stages available?
The seasonality of our willow varies by type. Please take a look at our guide to willow seasonality for more information.
