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Willow Trees
Willow trees (Salix) are amongst the most recognisable and beloved of UK native trees. Ours are traditionally grown in the South Downs, where an outdoor environment, sustainable growing practices and professional pruning all combine to make them healthy, hardy and long lived. They’re one of the earliest plants to come back to life in spring, with pollen-rich catkins emerging in April to attract the bees, and graceful architectural branches throughout the seasons.
Which willow tree is best for your garden?
For smaller gardens, the Dwarf Kilmarnock Weeping Willow is perfect, growing to only 2m tall with arching stems full of fluffy grey catkins. Flamingo Willow is also a great compact choice, bursting with colour changing catkins and multi-toned leaves. The Golden Weeping Willow grows up to 12m tall, with slender golden stems bearing yellow catkins. Corkscrew Willows are also perfect for large spaces, boasting upswept twisting branches covered in bright foliage and yellow catkins. There’s more willow inspiration to help you choose in this growers’ guide.
What grows well with willows?
There’s so much variation in willow tree varieties that they’re a strong choice for any size of garden. To mix it up, pair your willow tree with its natural companion, the alder tree. Both of these are very hardy and thrive in wet soil, as do hawthorns and birches. Underplant with photinia, berberis or even bamboo (but make sure to restrict its roots). Willow hedging is a good alternative, making an attractive and informal natural boundary that wildlife will love.
Growers' tips
Willow trees do best in a sunny spot with cool, deep, moist soil but will be fine with a little dappled shade. They do have quite sprawling root systems, so avoid planting them right next to your house or any boundary fences. Water your young willow tree regularly for the first year after planting, but after that you won’t need to worry about watering except in extended hot and dry spells. For the best display of foliage and catkins, give your willow an annual feed of general purpose slow-release feed right at the start of spring. Young willow trees should be pruned to encourage a good shape with vibrant new stems, but once they mature, you can ease off.
A rainbow of eyecatching colour for every season
- A riot of pink, white, green and cream variegated foliage throughout spring and summer
- A neat and compact tree ideal for showing off in the front garden
- Low maintenance and suitable for growing in pots
- RHS Award of Garden Merit winner
A gracefully weeping, compact willow
- Dwarf willow tree perfect for small spaces
- Abundance of fuzzy grey catkins
- Weeping habit is stunning when covered in snow or frost
- Ideal for attracting pollinators
Uniquely-shaped twisting and contorting branches
- Uniquely-shaped twisting and contorting branches
- Fresh, bright green foliage
- An ideal choice to add winter interest
- Offers varied seasonal interest
A favourite at Roots
- Average growth rate - expect 20-40cm per year
- Grows to 8m, easily maintained at 1-4m
Weeping branches and spiralling shoots
- Wavy leaves on corkscrew-shaped stems
- A great screening hedge for year-round interest
- Average growth rate - expect 20-40cm per year
- Grows to 8m, easily maintained at 1-4m
Fiery colour to light up your garden
- Waxy orange, yellow and red stems with pollen rich catkins
- An easy to grow, fully hardy tree
- Golden yellow foliage in autumn
- RHS Award of Garden Merit winner
A glorious contorted willow
- Wavy leaves on bright red, corkscrew stems
- Catkins appear before the foliage
- Twisting form adds year-round visual interest
- RHS Award of Garden Merit winner
Twisted in all the right ways
- Curling green leaves on twisting stems
- Attractive catkins appear in spring
- Distinctive shape adds great visual interest
- RHS Award of Garden Merit winner
The iconic weeping tree - every riverbank should have one!
- An abundance of gracefully weeping yellow branches
- Yellow catkins appearing in the spring
- Green foliage from spring all through to autumn
- Grows to 12m height
Fiery colour to light up your garden
- Waxy orange, yellow and red stems with pollen rich catkins
- An excellent screening tree
- Average growth rate - expect 20-40cm per year
- Grows to 4m, easily maintained at 1-4m
A native hedge to bring the wildlife flocking (but not goats)
- Fluffy catkins and bright green foliage
- Fantastic as natural screening - this will grow anywhere
- Average growth rate - expect 20-40cm per year
- Grows to 8m, easily maintained at 1-4m
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