Believe it or not, I started several corkscrew willows from 12" sticks that I bought at a local garden show. Rooted them in water and away they went. The one in the photo is so large that the root system is now tearing up our driveway. I just stuck it there in lousy fill dirt from our garage and it loves it. It is easy 30' and the trunk is massive. We have to take 8" limbs off when then start to hang over the drive. Steve makes walking sticks from it.
http://cubits.org/handmade/thr...
I have another that I plopped in my sun garden and it is about 20 + feet as well. Only drawback is they are quite dirty with the neverending leaves.
