Salix purpurea 'Nancy Saunders' (f)

RHS Plant Profile

willow 'Nancy Saunders'

Shrubs

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A compact, deciduous shrub to around 200cm in height, with narrow silvery blue-green foliage on red stems. Small fluffy, silvery catkins appear in late winter to early spring

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

2.5-4 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 10–20 years
Max Spread: 2.5-4 metres
Max Height: 2.5-4 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Poorly–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or South–facing or West–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): H6

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Salicaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy, Columnar upright
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: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in any deep moist well-drained soil in full sun. Dislikes shallow chalk soils. Good for moist or damp areas of the garden

Propagation

Propagate by softwood or hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Low Maintenance
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Pruning group 1. Responds well to coppicing if you wish to keep it smaller and more compact

Pests

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

Diseases

May be susceptible to willow anthracnose diseases and a rust