Silky Willow
Salix sericea
Plant Details
USDA Cold Hardiness Zones: 4a-9b Find Your Zone
Plant Type: Deciduous Shrub
Height at Maturity: 6-12′ depending on pruning
Width at Maturity: 6-10′ depending on pruning
Spacing: 8′ apart for solid hedge; 15’+ apart for space between plants
Flower Color: Orange-Apricot color buds open to White Flowers tipped in Yellow
Flower Size: 1-2″
Flowering Period: Spring
Flower Type: Showy
Fragrant Flowers: No
Foliage Color: Green with Silvery-White silky undersides
Fragrant Foliage: No
Berries: No
Berry Color: NA
Sun Needs: Full Sun or Mostly Shade
Water Needs: Average to High
Soil Type: Clay, Loam, Sand, Silt
Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist to Wet
Soil pH: 5.5 to 8.0 (Moderately Acid to Moderately Alkaline)
Maintenance / Care: Low to Average
Attracts: Butterflies, Beneficial Pollinators
Resistances: Deer, Disease, Wet Soil, Shade
Description
Named for the silky-white undersides of its narrow green leaves, the Silky Willow, Salix sericea, is a North American native and one of the most attractive of the willows. During the winter orange-apricot color buds open to showy pussy willow-like white flowers tipped in yellow that are a favorite of butterflies and beneficial pollinators. As with other willows this one prefers a consistently moist to wet soil so is ideal for planting in low lying or wetland areas and around the margins of bodies of water. Fast growing to 12 feet tall and equally as wide, it can be grown as a large rounded shrub or lower branches removed to form an attractive small tree. Its thin and purplish brown twigs create nice color during the fall and winter months. Can be grown in full sun or mostly shade.
Wildlife Attributes
Silky Willow supports the Viceroy butterfly larvae which has two to three broods from May-September. Adult butterflies feed on nectar from composite flowers. The flowers are pollinated by native bees and honey bees and is the larval host plant for the Acadian Hairstreak moth.
Landscape & Garden Uses
Growing 8 to 12 feet tall and equally as wide, the Silky Willow is ideal for planting in low lying areas of the landscape where the soil stays consistently moist to wet. Very attractive at the margins of creeks, streams, rivers, lakes swamps, marshes, swamps and other bodies of water. A fine addition to butterfly and beneficial pollinator gardens, bog gardens and native plant gardens.
Suggested Spacing: 8 feet apart for solid hedge; 15 feet or more apart for space between plants
Growing Preferences
The Silky Willow is easy to grow in a consistently moist to wet soil of average to even low fertility. It will thrive in full sun or mostly shade. No pruning is necessary however plants respond well to it.
Plant Long & Prosper!
Meet The Wilson Brothers & Staff
Questions? Contact Us

























Reviews
There are no reviews yet.