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Salix arbuscula
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

mountain willow

A dwarf deciduous shrub, with a spreading habit and small, bright glossy green leaves that turn yellow in autumn. Female plants produce yellow catkins with the foliage in May or June; catkins on male plants are smaller and brown with red anthers

Synonyms
Salix formosa
Salix prunifolia
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Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
5–10 years
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Yellow Brown Red Green
Summer Yellow Brown Red Green
Autumn Yellow
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H7
Botanical details
Family
Salicaceae
Native to the UK
Yes
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Matforming
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 to C Asia

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in any moist but well-drained soil in full sun. Tolerates poor soils but avoid shallow chalk

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings in early summer or hardwood cuttings in winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Rock garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Ground cover
Pruning

Pruning group 1

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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