Salix sericea is a large, deciduous shrub that thrives in moist to wet areas. Beautiful gray catkins with yellow tips bloom March through April before the leaves emerge, providing important early food for pollinators. Sericea, which means “clothed in silken hair” in Latin, provides the plant’s common name. The shrub’s multi-stemmed form adds interest and beauty, particularly in winter when the red, yellow, brown, and purple stems are more visible. It will grow up to three feet per year, giving almost instantaneous interest to a new garden (Salix is the Latin word for “jump,” referring to willow’s quick growth). Overall size can be controlled by pruning or cutting to the ground every 3 to 5 years in late winter to early spring. Silky willow is known to tolerate dryer soils than most other willows but is happiest when its feet are moist. It’s a great alternative to the non-native Russian olive plant, which also grows extremely quickly.
Native habitats include wetlands, low woods, and river and stream banks. This shrub is great for erosion control along creeks, streams, and rivers, and it helps manage watershed by increasing water infiltration and reducing runoff.
Plant Characteristics:
Typically grows to 7-12' tall by 4-8' wide.
Grows in full to part sun.
Prefers moist to wet, fine-textured loam but adapts to silt, sand, and clay.
Male catkins are 2” long with tiny flowers and yellowish anthers. Female catkins are smaller and non-showy, with greenish flowers.
Lance-shaped leaves are dark green on top and silver underneath, providing flashes of color in summer breezes. Fall color is yellow.
Wildlife Value:
Willows are a keystone plant, supporting the larvae of 328 species of moths and butterflies, including the viceroy butterfly and white-lined sphinx moth pictured here, and the giant leopard moth. Its early bloom time provides bees, butterflies, and other pollinators much needed access to nourishment as they emerge from their overwintering sites. Willows are a food source for several species of specialized bees that feed on a narrow range of plants. Silky willow is valued by songbirds, waterfowl, and game birds for cover. If sited along waterways, it also helps aquatic life by reducing soil runoff.
Medicinal, Edible, and Other Uses:
In the time of Hippocrates, willow bark was chewed to relieve inflammation and fever, and is still in use today in some parts of the world for headaches and other types of pain. Salicin, a phytochemical found naturally in willow bark, was used in the 1800’s to develop aspirin and is thought to be responsible for its pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects. Slower to act than aspirin, its effects are reported to last longer.
The long branches of willows can be used to make baskets or wattle fencing.
A natural rooting-hormone tea can be made from actively growing young twigs of willows. To make, simply remove the leaves and cut the twigs into 1” pieces. Pour boiling water over the twigs and allow to stand overnight. Alternatively, you can allow the brew to stand for several days to several weeks-the longer it stands, the more of the natural rooting compound will leach into the water. Remove the twigs and place your cuttings directly into the undiluted “tea.”