About
This deciduous bushy shrub, to 1m tall and 2m wide, initially upright in habit then arching and spreading. Narrowly-oval, densely-hairy leaves are grey-green above and silvery beneath and appear after the silvery catkins that mature to yellow 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 typeLoam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectEast-facing, South-facing, North-facing, West-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeShrubs
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread1.5-2.5 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesCoastal, Wildlife gardens
Native toEurope
Care notes
CultivationGrow in a moderately fertile, moist soil in full sun
PruningPruning group 1
PropagationPropagate by softwood cuttings in spring 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