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Salix cinerea subsp. oleifolia

rusty sallow

A deciduous tree to 10m tall, found in damp places. Twigs are yellow and red when young, bark attractively fissured in diamond patterns when mature. Elongated oval shaped leaves with a grey sheen. Round, silvery male catkins with yellow pollen and female green catkins are borne on separate trees

Synonyms

Salix atrocinerea
Salix cinerea subsp. atrocinerea

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Ultimate height

8–12 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

4–8 metres

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Poorly–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or North–facing or West–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Salicaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: Yes
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
Plant range: Europe, S Russia

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in any deep moist well-drained soil in full sun. Good for natural settings, such as meadow and stream side gardens. Foliage provides a food source for moth and butterfly caterpillar species. Catkins provide an early pollen source for bees

Propagation

Propagate by hardwood cuttings or by layering

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Wildlife gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Hedging and screens

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, caterpillars, leaf beetles and sawflies

Diseases

May be susceptible to willow anthracnose, scab, canker, honey fungus and rust

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