Plant Detail

Salix purpurea Nana

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.

  • Grows up to 10-15 ft. tall and wide (300-450 cm).
  • Performs best in full sun, in deepmedium to wetwell-drained soils. Very adaptable to poor soils. Dislikes shallow chalk soils and is intolerant of dry soils.
  • Great for hedges and screenscoastal gardenswildlife gardens, or along streams or ponds.
  • Easy to growlow maintenance, and deer tolerant. Watch for aphids, caterpillars, leaf beetles, sawflies, willow anthracnose, or rust.
  • Prune as needed in late winter to early spring. Many gardeners prune the stems back in late winter each year to encourage more vigorous growth, and more colorful foliage (as it results in new growth), and control the plant size.
  • Can be subjected to rejuvenation pruning, taken down to 4-24 in. (10-60 cm) above the ground.
  • Propagate by softwood or hardwood cuttings.

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Requirement
Hardiness 2,3,4,5,6,7
Heat Zones 3,4,5,6,7
Climate Zones 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Plant Type Shrubs
Plant Family Willow Family
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, Early Spring, Mid Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Mid Summer, Late Summer
Height 4' - 5'
Spread 4' - 5'
Water Needs Average, High
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Acid
Characteristics Deer Tolerant, Wet Soil Tolerant
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Modern Garden
Planting Place Beds and Borders, Bog Gardens