About
A bushy medium-sized deciduous tree with striking, silvery-grey, narrow-lanceolate leaves up to 10cm in length. Insignificant, slender, drooping yellow catkins 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 typeClay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, North-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeTrees
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
HeightHigher than 12 metres
Spread4-8 metres
Time to full height20-50 years
Suggested usesWildlife gardens, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden
Native toEurope Africa Asia
Care notes
CultivationGrow in moderately fertile deep soil in full sun. Very fast growing
PruningPruning group 1. Suitable for hard pruning to rejuvenate or pollarding
PropagationPropagate by softwood cuttings in early summer or hardwood cuttings in winter
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