About
An initially upright, later spreading tree. The young shoots are dark purple with a silvery bloom in winter. Silky, grey catkins up to 4cm long are produced in late winter/early 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
AspectSouth-facing, North-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeTrees
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height4-8 metres
Spread4-8 metres
Time to full height10-20 years
Suggested usesWildlife gardens, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden
Native toEurope
Care notes
CultivationEasy to grow in any reasonable soil; can be grown as a tree or as a shrub for winter stems
PruningPruning group 1 if grown as a tree, pruning group 7 if grown for winter stems
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