Salix repens 'Iona' (m)
A dwarf, deciduous shrub, usually no more than 30cm high, with spreading stems and narrowly oval, grey-green leaves with silvery undersides. Silvery catkins are produced just before or alongside the leaves in spring, turning yellow as they mature. Sometimes grafted as a standard to create a small weeping tree
Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Yellow | Grey Silver Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Grey Silver Green | |||
| Autumn | Grey Silver Green | |||
| 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
- Spreading branched, Pendulous weeping
- 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 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
- City and courtyard gardens
- Coastal
- Cottage and informal garden
- Rock garden
- Wildlife gardens
Pruning
Pruning group 7, every two or three years in March, for best show of catkins
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
Get involved
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