Salix purpurea 'Gracilis' – 'Gracilis' Purple Osier Willow (Dwarf Arctic Willow)

'Gracilis' Willow is a prized ornamental shrub, valued for its elegant form and fine foliage. This variety of purple osier willow develops a compact, rounded habit that brings texture to the garden year-round. Its greatest quality, besides its ease of care, is the visual interest it provides even in winter, thanks to the unique colour of its stems.

Characteristics

• Foliage: It displays dense and fine deciduous foliage. The narrow, elongated leaves have a lovely blue-green hue on top and a lighter (glaucous) underside. In the fall, the foliage transforms into a luminous yellow.
• Flowering: In early spring, well before the leaves appear, small, discreet catkins in a purple or reddish colour emerge along the stems, adding an early touch of colour.
• Light: It thrives in full sun but also adapts well to a location in partial shade.
• Habit: It forms a very dense, multi-stemmed shrub that develops a naturally rounded and compact habit. Its base remains full right to the ground.
• Growth: Fast. It is a shrub that can live for 40 years or more. It reaches a height of 1.2 to 1.5 m and a spread of 1.2 to 2.1 m.
• Moisture: It prefers average to moist soil conditions.
• Soil: It is an exceptionally adaptable plant that grows in almost all soil types, regardless of pH. It handles both dry conditions and some standing water.
• Hardiness: Extremely hardy, it faces the harsh winters of Zone 2 without any problem.
• Watering: It requires regular watering while establishing, but proves very versatile afterwards.
• Resistance: It resists deer well and handles urban pollution very well.

Uses

• Types of Use: Its fine texture and dense habit make it an excellent choice for mass plantings or for creating formal or informal hedges. It also integrates perfectly into borders to add texture.
• Ornamental Features: It offers year-round interest. Its delicate summer foliage and fall colour are followed by the spectacle of its young, dark purple stems, which are particularly visible and attractive in the winter garden.

Care

• Fertilizing: It generally does not require any fertilizer to perform well.
• Pruning: It tolerates pruning very well. Prune in late winter or very early spring to remove dead wood and encourage vigorous growth, which also promotes a more intense colour on the new stems.
• Planting: Plant it in well-drained to moist soil, in sun or partial shade. It is an easy plant that establishes quickly.