About
The bare young stems are dark yellow-gold in winter and it has small white catkins in early spring. A deciduous shrub or small tree with twisted shoots and leaves. The leaves are long and narrow, green at first then turning yellow in autumn. The stems can be cut for floristry.
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, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moisturePoorly-drained, Moist but well-drained
AspectEast-facing, North-facing, South-facing, West-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH7
Plant details
Plant typeShrubs, Trees
HabitBushy, Clump forming, Columnar upright, Suckering, Spreading branched
FoliageDeciduous
Height8-12 metres
Spread4-8 metres
Time to full height10-20 years
Suggested usesArchitectural, City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden
Care notes
CultivationGrow in any fertile moisture-retentive soil, even waterlogged for short periods. Beside water is ideal.
PruningPruning group 1 or pruning group 7 for brighter coloured stems and keeping the shrub shorter.
PropagationPropagate from hardwood cuttings
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids, caterpillars, gall mites, flea beetles, sawfly larvae, and willow scale
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to willow anthracnose, watermark disease, willow heart rot, rust diseases, crown gall, honey fungus, root rot, silver leaf, and tar spot