Salix aurita Büchelberg - Eared Willow

Salix aurita 'Büchelberg' is a cultivar of the small pussy willow or eared willow, with young reddish-brown stems and crinkled, matte green leaves with woolly undersides and toothed edges. It is a small willow with a bushy habit, rarely cultivated in gardens. The species gets its name from the small rounded appendages, resembling kidneys, that appear at the base of each leaf, resembling small ears. Its late spring flowering is attractive on its bare branches and is a good source of nectar. It thrives in sunny, moist, and acidic soils, for example, near a water source. This willow is particularly useful for stabilising riverbanks and slopes and provides good windbreaks in coastal regions.

The auriculate willow belongs to the Salicaceae family. It is native to Western Europe, where it can still be found in moist areas, in full sun, and on acidic or even peaty soils. 'Büchelberg', with its slow growth, forms a large shrub that will not exceed 3m in height and 2.5m in width. Its trunk is flexible and covered with streaked bark. The branches are numerous, flexible, small and often angular. The young shoots are reddish-brown or greenish-brown. Flowering occurs in April-May, before the leaves appear. It takes the form of upright catkins that can be either male or female, with both types of flowers borne on separate individuals. These flowers, which are very rich in nectar, are tiny and clustered in small feathery green-yellow spikes. The deciduous foliage consists of small elliptical leaves measuring up to 4cm in length, finely toothed, pointed, rough, wrinkled, and with a dull green colour on the upper surface, while the undersides are whitish. The leaves turn yellow in autumn before falling.

The 'Büchelberg' auriculate willow is a wise choice for landscaping stream banks or around ponds in non-calcareous soil. It also adapts well to periodically flooded areas, adding a wild touch to any garden. Its resistance to severe frosts makes it a robust plant for harsh climates. To promote a dense habit and encourage flowering, it is recommended to prune it annually after flowering. This willow can be used individually, as an informal hedge, or as a backdrop in a border, paired with moisture-loving plants such as winterberry holly, 'Cardinal' dogwood, or even blueberries. These combinations create a harmonious and attractive ecosystem.

Properties:

Like all willows, this species contains a substance similar to aspirin in its bark. It is highly nectar-rich and a good source of honey: bees that collect its nectar produce a honey that is golden yellow, iridescent green, and takes on amber to beige hues as it ages. Its flavour is sweet, both floral and slightly woody. Its foliage was once used as fodder for goats.