Salix repens - Creeping Willow

Salix repens belongs to the family of willows. It is a creeping underground stem botanical species, native to a large part of Europe and temperate Asia. This willow grows spontaneously on dunes, in wet heathlands and sphagnum bogs. It is also found in medium mountain meadows, up to 1700m (5600ft) altitude, always on acidic soil. 

The creeping willow, as its name suggests, has a very spread out habit, supported by thin, flexible, pubescent stems, more or less upright or spread out. At maturity, this small willow with rather slow growth will not exceed 70-80cm (27.6 - 31.5in) in height, widening through suckers. The young branches are almost glabrous, then become grey-brown and downy with age. The deciduous foliage is composed of small leaves arranged alternately. The young leaves are covered with a silver down on both sides. The adult leaves, entire, oval to oblong in shape, measure 2 to 4cm (0.8 - 1.6in) long. They are more or less narrow. The lamina is dark green on the upper side, while the underside is more glaucous in colour, covered with silver bristles and traversed by discreet veins. Flowering occurs from March to May, usually before the appearance of leaves, sometimes at the same time depending on the climate. Male and female subjects are separate individuals, as in all willows. In this species, the catkins, oval and dense, measure about 1.5cm (0.6in) long. They are grey-yellow in colour, more brown at the top on male catkins. The fruit, of variable colour and appearance, is a capsule sometimes very cottony that releases decorative seeds covered with long bristles.

This small silver, creeping and suckering willow forms an excellent ground cover along water points but also on drier slopes as long as the soil is deep and retains moisture. It can also be used in rock gardens or for the creation of low hedges and meadows that require little maintenance in a slightly wild area of the garden. Regularly prune it after flowering to encourage it to bush out and produce numerous flowering branches. For example, it can be associated with dogwoods (Cornus sanguinea, Cornus sericea), Miscanthus, gorse or reed mace at the edge of a large pond. There is such a diversity of forms, sizes and cultivation requirements among willows that it is impossible not to find a subject that will thrive in your garden. A willow always brings a bucolic and natural touch, sometimes very original depending on the varieties.

Note: In France, Salix repens is a protected plant in Burgundy, Centre-Val de Loire and Ile de France.