Salix arbuscula

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Salix arbuscula

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Kemper Code: Z670

Common Name: mountain willow
Zone: 3 to 8
Plant Type: Deciduous shrub
Family: Salicaceae
Missouri Native: No
Native Range: Scotland, Scandinavia, northern Russia
Height: 1 to 2 feet
Spread: 1 to 2 feet
Bloom Time: May
Bloom Color: Greenish (red anthers)
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Low

Plant Culture and Characteristics

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Uses:		Wildlife:	Flowers:	Leaves:	Fruit:
Hedge	Suitable as annual	Attracts birds	Has showy flowers	Leaves colorful	Has showy fruit
Shade tree	Culinary herb	Attracts	Has fragrant flowers	Leaves fragrant	Fruit edible
Street tree	Vegetable	hummingbirds	Flowers not showy	Good fall color	Other:
Flowering tree	Water garden plant	Attracts	Good cut flower	Evergreen	Winter interest
Gr. cover (<1')	Will naturalize	butterflies	Good dried flower		Thorns or spines

General Culture:

Best grown in sandy or rocky, medium to wet soils in full sun to light shade. Tolerates poor soils.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

Mountain willow is native to moist, calcareous soils in rocky alpine slopes, meadows and grasslands in Scotland, Scandinavia and Russia. In its native habitat, it is a dense, deciduous shrub which assumes two different forms: (a) at lower alpine elevations, it typically grows 3-6' tall with an upright form, but (b) at higher alpine elevations, it typically grows only 12-20" tall with a low, prostrate form. Nurseries typically sell the prostrate, high alpine form as a rock garden plant. Elliptic to lance-shaped, glossy green leaves (2-4" long) have a bluish-green cast beneath. Grayish-green catkins (to 1 inch long) with reddish anthers bloom in May, but are not particularly showy.

Problems:

Salix arbuscula has not been extensively grown the St. Louis area, and it is not yet clear how this European alpine shrub will adapt to the St. Louis climate. Willows are generally susceptible to a number of disease problems including cankers, blights, galls, leaf spots, powdery mildew and rust. Potential insect pests generally include borers, caterpillars and scale.

Uses:

Small shrub for rock gardens. May be difficult to find in commerce.