Silky Willow
Salix sericea
Silver-backed leaves shimmer in a breeze while early catkins feed queen bumblebees. Fast-growing bank holder for wet stream edges.
Typically 1 quart–3 gal · $17–$85 · final price at pickup
- Thu, Aug 138 AM – 4 PM
- Fri, Aug 148 AM – 4 PM
- Sat, Aug 158 AM – 2 PM
One of the earliest spring pollen sources and the most reliable shrub for stabilizing a wet bank. it does two important jobs at once.
Silky willow is a moisture-loving shrub built for stream edges, rain gardens, and wet spots that need both ecological function and some visual grace. The narrow leaves shimmer silver on the undersides in a breeze, giving the plant a soft, silky appearance that earns its name. Catkins appear very early in spring, among the first pollen sources of the year, making this shrub a critical resource for queen bumblebees emerging from winter. It spreads by root suckering along water edges and is one of the best native plants for stabilizing stream banks while providing dense wildlife cover. Not for dry gardens, but in its element: wet feet, sun to part shade. It grows fast and holds the bank with authority.
A nursery-grown plant, ready for the ground.
Healthy, container-grown silky willow propagated on-site at Hill House from regional genetics. Includes a one-page care card. We make every effort to supply plants as listed; occasionally we substitute a similar species of equal value.
Plant silky willow instead of Native alternative to pussy willow (Salix caprea) which can escape into wet habitats. Same job in the garden, without the spread.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Mature size
- 4–10 ft · 4–8 ft wide
- USDA zones
- 4–8
- Family
- Salicaceae
- Native range
- Eastern North America
Care notes for silky willow.
Full sun to part shade, wet to moist soil. Tolerates seasonal flooding. No pruning required, but cut back hard every few years to rejuvenate and maintain dense form. Spreads by root suckers along water. desirable for bank stabilization, something to manage in a formal setting. No fertilizing needed.
Pairs well with these.
Same light, same soil, same wildlife. Janet's picks to plant alongside silky willow.
Or skip the guesswork.
Curated packages bundle complementary species for an instant habitat. One reservation, one pickup day, a printed layout map.
Short on Space Package
For gardeners who have an abundance of passion but are short on space, this package features tidy, upright, clump-forming natives that behave and function well in small spaces.
Shade Bed Package
Ferns, sedges, and woodland natives that thrive under existing trees.
Birder’s Paradise Package
For the avid bird watchers and budding ornithologists in our community, the Birder’s Paradise Package consists of species that Hill House Nursery staff and longtime native plant advocates such as Doug Tallamy consider ‘premier bird garden plants’.