Silky Willow is a graceful deciduous shrub adorned with early spring catkins that are an important source of pollen and nectar for pollinators. A dioecious species, some plants produce male flowers, and some produce female flowers (followed by seeds). The young stems of this species tend to be yellow or red. Like most willows, the Silky Willow prefers moist to wet sites and can handle frequent standing water. Sericea means silky or downy in Latin, a nod to the silky silver-white hairs that cover the lance-shaped leaves which turn an attractive yellow in the fall.
Conditions: Full sun to part shade; moist to wet soils
Size: 6’-12’ tall; 6'-12' wide
Zone: 2 – 8
Wildlife Value: Larval host to hundreds of butterfly and moth species, including the Zigzag Furcula, Giant Leopard Moth, and Viceroy; flowers support several pollen specialist bees, as well as generalist pollinators
Photos: Samantha Nestory, David Korbonits