Creeping willow
Salix repens · Salicaceae
📷 Opioła Jerzy (Poland) · CC BY 2.5
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around creeping willow and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Scientific name
- Salix repens
- Family
- Salicaceae
- Type
- Deciduous shrub
- Adult height
- 0.8 m
- Flowering
- March to April
- Foliage
- Deciduous, grey-blue green
- Hardiness
- Very hardy (-15 °C)
- Origin
- Northern and Central Europe
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Creeping willow needs permanently moist but well-aerated soil (no stagnant water). Mulch generously to maintain moisture.
The common mistake
Planting in dry soil thinking that 'willows grow anywhere': they suffocate and yellow, won't flower.
The pro's trick
Take stem cuttings in spring (February-March): they root in just a few weeks in moist soil.
Care
Light exposure
Creeping willow prefers a sunny or partially shaded location. In full sun, it will express its most compact form and decorative foliage. Avoid overly shaded areas that would slow down its growth and flowering.
Watering
This shrub appreciates moist soils, particularly during the growing period (spring-summer). Water regularly during prolonged dry spells, especially in the first years after planting. In winter, reduce watering based on natural rainfall.
Soil
Creeping willow tolerates moist soils well and even slightly peaty substrates. It adapts to neutral to slightly acidic pH levels. A fresh, well-structured substrate will promote optimal development.
Pruning
Prune lightly after flowering (late April-May) to maintain a compact, bushy form. Remove dead or diseased branches in early spring. Avoid severe pruning that would compromise the shrub's natural shape.
Fertilising
A moderate application of balanced fertiliser in spring is quite sufficient. If the soil is rich in organic matter, no additional feeding is necessary. Prefer an annual mulch that will gradually enrich the soil.
Diseases and pests
Creeping willow is generally hardy and not very susceptible to diseases. Occasionally watch for aphids during warm periods and powdery mildew in excessive humidity. Good air circulation and watering at the base limit these risks.
Did you know?
Creeping willow is a pioneer shrub of damp areas, particularly in peat bogs and flooded meadows of Northern Europe. Its downy catkins that emerge as early as spring (sometimes February) provide a precious source of pollen and nectar for bees as they emerge from winter, before most other plants have begun flowering.
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
- Grey willowSalix cinerea
- White willowSalix alba
- Eared willowSalix aurita
- Black poplarPopulus nigra
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.