Salix eleagnos
hoary willow
A large, vigorous deciduous shrub or small tree, with a rounded, spreading habit, downy new shoots and narrowly elliptic, glossy dark green leaves with grey felting underneath. Slender green catkins appear alongside the new leaves in spring; male catkins have yellow anthers
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Size
Ultimate height
8–12 metresTime to ultimate height
10–20 yearsUltimate spread
4–8 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green | |||
| Autumn | Green Yellow | |||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H6Botanical details
- Family
- Salicaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Bushy
- 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
- Name status
Correct
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in any deep, moist but well-drained soil in full sun. Avoid shallow chalk soil
Propagation
Propagate by softwood cuttings in early summer or hardwood cuttings in winter
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Coastal
- Cottage and informal garden
- Architectural
- Wildlife gardens
Pruning
Pruning group 1 or 7
Pests
May be susceptible to aphids, caterpillars, willow leaf beetle, sawflies and willow scale insects
Diseases
May be susceptible to willow anthracnose, honey fungus and rust diseases
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