About
A deciduous shrub, often to around 1.5m high though it can reach up to 4m in ideal conditions. Fluffy catkins appear alongside the leaves in late spring; male catkins have reddish anthers. Leaves are oval-shaped and covered with fine silvery white hairs. Young shoots are downy and greenish-brown, maturing to dark reddish brown.
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
AspectEast-facing, South-facing, West-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH7
Plant details
Plant typeShrubs
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height2.5-4 metres
Spread1.5-2.5 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesCoastal, Cottage and informal garden, City and courtyard gardens, Wildlife gardens
Care notes
CultivationGrow in any deep, moist but well-drained soil in full sun. Avoid shallow chalk soil. This species is exceptionally cold hardy and will tolerate slightly less moisture in the soil
PruningPruning group 1 or 7
PropagationPropagate by softwood cuttings in early summer or hardwood cuttings in winter
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids, caterpillars, willow leaf beetle, sawflies and willow scale insects
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to willow anthracnose, honey fungus and rust diseases