White Willow

The white willow is a fast-growing, deciduous tree native to the UK, typically found near watercourses. It's characterised by its distinctive silver-grey, downy leaves, which give the tree a shimmering appearance in the breeze. Long, slender yellow catkins-male and female on separate trees-emerge in early spring before the leaves. A very hardy tree, it thrives in moist to wet soils and prefers full sun for best growth. Its natural spreading habit makes it a dramatic feature tree for larger gardens or areas with damp ground. Regular coppicing or pollarding can keep it to a manageable size.

Sun: Full sun.

Soil: Moist to wet.

Hardiness: H6 — down to −20°C.

Flowering: Mar, Apr.