Salix cinerea - Grey Willow

The Grey Willow is a small tree to 10m, but more usually makes a large shrub, and along with the Goat Willow is also known as Pussy Willow. Common throughout Britain, it is found on wet sites and on wasteland everywhere. It is sometimes confused with Goat Willow, but its leaves are narrower with greyish-white undersides. It has good wildlife value.

Site and soil

Preferring wet sites, the Grey Willow will often colonise boggy ground, but it will also do well in all but the driest soils. Good in exposed and coastal area. Tolerant of very wet soil with low oxygen levels.

Height and spread

Below are the approximate stages of growth, assuming sited in suitable conditions for this species;

After 10 years: 3m x 3m
After 20 years: 4m x 4m

Leaf and bark

The leaves are more oval than typical willow, but not as broad or as wrinkly as the Goat Willow. They are dark green, to 6cm, with felted grey undersides. The bark is dark grey with shallow ridges.

Flower, seed and fruit

The Grey Willow is dioecious, that is the male and female catkins appear on separate trees. The male flowers are the densely silvery-hairy flowers well known as Pussy Willow, the females green. The females release the fluffy seeds in May. When bought in quantity there is a good chance both sexes will be represented.

Uses

Woodland, hedgerows, reclamation sites, coppicing, pollarding.

Wildlife

The flowers provide valuable early pollen for foraging bees. It is the food plant of several species of butterfly including the Purple Emperor and Camberwell Beauty.