Grey willow
Salix cinerea · Salicaceae
📷 BCB · Public domain
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around grey willow and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Scientific name
- Salix cinerea
- Family
- Salicaceae
- Type
- Deciduous shrub
- Mature height
- Up to 7 m
- Flowering
- March to April
- Foliage
- Deciduous, gray-green
- Hardiness
- Very hardy (down to -20°C)
- Origin
- Temperate Europe and Asia
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Goat willow thrives in constantly moist soil, even temporarily waterlogged conditions – it's their natural habitat. Plant it near poorly drained areas or at the edge of a pond.
The common mistake
Gardeners often plant it in normal, well-drained soil where it gradually declines.
The pro's trick
Take herbaceous cuttings in June directly in water: they'll root in 2-3 weeks.
Care
Regular watering
Gray willow appreciates fresh to moist substrates and doesn't tolerate prolonged drought. Water regularly, especially during the first two years after planting. Constantly moist soil promotes better growth, particularly during warm periods.
Exposure and light
Plant gray willow in full sun or partial shade for optimal growth. It thrives particularly well in sunny areas where it develops a compact habit and denser foliage. Avoid overly shaded spots that would slow its vigor.
Soil type
Gray willow adapts to many soil types but prefers slightly acidic to neutral soil rich in organic matter. It tolerates moist soils very well, even temporarily waterlogged ones, making it ideal for gardens in low-lying areas or near water features.
Pruning and maintenance
Prune lightly after flowering to maintain a harmonious shape and encourage branching. You can practice more severe pruning in late winter if necessary. Simply removing dead wood and crossing branches is generally sufficient to maintain the shrub properly.
Fertilizing
Apply well-decomposed compost in spring to enrich the soil with organic matter. One application per year is generally sufficient. In poor soils, a balanced fertilizer applied early in the season can support growth, but this is rarely necessary.
Diseases and pests
Gray willow can occasionally be affected by willow rust or aphid attacks, particularly in dry conditions. Promote good air circulation through regular pruning and avoid excess nitrogen which favors pests. A mild phytosanitary treatment is generally sufficient if needed.
Did you know?
Gray willow owes its name to the ash-gray tint of its foliage, particularly visible on the reverse of the leaves. Highly appreciated by basketweavers, it has long been used in Europe to reinforce riverbanks and prevent erosion, making it not only ecologically beneficial but also valuable for wet zone landscaping.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- AspenPopulus tremula
- Goat willowSalix caprea
- White willowSalix alba
- Eared willowSalix aurita
- Creeping willowSalix repens
- Black poplarPopulus nigra
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.