About
A tree, up to 25m high, with dark grey furrowed bark. Its long, narrow pointed leaves, up to 10cm long, are dull green above, blue-green beneath, and silky, so that they appear silvery-white at a distance; catkins, 4-6cm long, appear with the leaves in spring.
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 typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Poorly-drained
AspectNorth-facing, West-facing, East-facing, South-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeTrees
HabitSpreading branched
FoliageDeciduous
HeightHigher than 12 metres
Spreadwider than 8 metres
Time to full height20-50 years
Suggested usesWildlife gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Wildflower meadow, Architectural
Care notes
CultivationGrow in full sun in moist or wet soil; avoid planting near buildings because its roots take up a lot of water from a wide area
PruningPruning group 1
PropagationPropagate by softwood cuttings in early summer or hardwood cuttings in winter; may also be propagated by large sets, up to 3.5m long and 2-3cm thick
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