Salix matsudana 'Golden Curls', or Snake Willow, is a lovely small willow tree with a weeping corkscrew growth habit. Although the trunk and larger branches are upright, the younger branches truly weep downward in graceful curling gold and green tresses. The younger new branches and leaves are a golden-green color in spring and mature to bronze-gold branches in summer with soft willow green leaves. The leaves are also slightly twisted enhancing the tresses like effect of the weeping branches. The flowers, emerging in the spring with the leaves, are pale green and insignificant. In winter the entire tree has a sculptural aspect, and the curly branches with snow are delightful. This tree, when leafless, looks amazing with garden lighting. This is a fast growing tree and will reach 20 feet high and wide with in a few years. It is a fun bit of living sculpture for a garden, but be sure to give it enough sun and space to develop its lovely form or give it a good trim in late winter to keep it a manageable size for your space.

Members of the genus Salix are commonly known as willows. These woody plants range in size from the imposing weeping willow tree to small shrubs. While not fussy about soil quality, they generally require moderate to wet soil moisture. In the wild, willows are commonly found near streams, rivers and ponds. In cultivation, willows are often used to control erosion in such areas. They are easily propagated from cuttings; willows root and grow quickly.

Of the estimated 350 species in the genus Salix, most are native to the cooler, temperate and sub-polar regions of Asia, Europe and North America. Cross species hybridization occurs both naturally and through human intervention, which can make taxonomic distinctions challenging. The Chicago Botanic Garden's collection contains almost 150 varieties among its more than 8,000 willows.