About
A bushy shrub or small tree with red-purple shoots and oblong, dark green leaves up to 15cm long. aromatic, silvery, male and female catkins are borne on separate trees in late winter or early spring, before the leaves open. Male catkins are up to 4cm long with bright yellow anthers; female catkins up to 8cm long.
About the genus
Salix are deciduous shrubs and trees of diverse habit, with simple leaves and tiny flowers in catkins, male and female usually on separate plants. Some are valued for their brightly coloured winter shoots, others for their foliage or showy male catkins
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeClay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Poorly-drained
AspectWest-facing, South-facing, East-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeShrubs, Trees
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height4-8 metres
Spread4-8 metres
Time to full height10-20 years
Suggested usesWildlife gardens, Coastal
Native toSW to C Asia
FragranceFlower
Care notes
CultivationGrow in any deep, moist soil in full sun
PruningPruning group 1
PropagationPropagate by softwood or hardwood cuttings
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids, caterpillars, leaf beetles, sawflies, willow scale
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to willow anthracnose, scab, canker, honey fungus and rust