Alaska Blue Willow, Purple Willow, Purple Osier, Bitter Willow, Basket Willow, Salix purpurea 'Helix'
Salix purpurea (Purple Willow) is a spreading deciduous shrub or small tree of upright, rounded habit with arching purplish young stems turning gray as they age. They bear narrowly oblong, fine-textured, blue-green leaves, 2-4 in. long (5-10 cm), with silvery-blue undersides. The leaves are densely arranged along the thin stems, and flutter in the breeze, creating a rippling bicolored effect. In early to mid-spring, slender silvery catkins, packed with tiny flowers, appear before the leaves. Fast-growing, very cold-hardy, Purple Willow can be used as a specimen, in group planting, near bodies of water, as an informal hedge, or as a deciduous screen. Its suckering habit aids in erosion control and makes it a good candidate for embankments. The stems can be harvested and used in the production of baskets.
Hardiness |
4 - 7 |
---|---|
Heat Zones |
1 - 7 |
Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, A2, A3 |
Plant Type | Shrubs, Trees |
Plant Family | Salicaceae |
Genus | Salix |
Common names | Willow |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest | Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall |
Height | 10' - 15' (3m - 4.6m) |
Spread | 10' - 15' (3m - 4.6m) |
Maintenance | Low |
Water Needs | Average, High |
Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Poorly Drained |
Characteristics | Showy |
Native Plants | United Kingdom |
Tolerance | Deer, Clay Soil, Wet Soil |
Attracts | Butterflies |
Garden Uses | Hedges And Screens, Ponds And Streams |
Garden Styles | Coastal Garden, Prairie and Meadow |
Hardiness |
4 - 7 |
---|---|
Heat Zones |
1 - 7 |
Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, A2, A3 |
Plant Type | Shrubs, Trees |
Plant Family | Salicaceae |
Genus | Salix |
Common names | Willow |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest | Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall |
Height | 10' - 15' (3m - 4.6m) |
Spread | 10' - 15' (3m - 4.6m) |
Maintenance | Low |
Water Needs | Average, High |
Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Poorly Drained |
Characteristics | Showy |
Native Plants | United Kingdom |
Tolerance | Deer, Clay Soil, Wet Soil |
Attracts | Butterflies |
Garden Uses | Hedges And Screens, Ponds And Streams |
Garden Styles | Coastal Garden, Prairie and Meadow |
How many Salix purpurea (Purple Willow) do I need for my garden?
Plant | Quantity | |
---|---|---|
Salix purpurea (Purple Willow) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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