About
A slow-growing, upright deciduous shrub or small tree, with reddish-brown stems and oval-shaped, finely toothed, rich green leaves with conspicuous veins. Slender yellow-green catkins emerge from red buds 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
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeShrubs, Trees
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height4-8 metres
Spread2.5-4 metres
Time to full height20-50 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, Architectural, Wildlife gardens
Native toChina
Care notes
CultivationGrow in any deep, moist but well-drained soil in full sun. Avoid shallow chalk soil and frost pockets as leaves can sometimes by damaged by late spring frosts
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