Salix hastata Wehrhahnii - Willow

Salix hastata 'Wehrhahnii' is a delightful variety of dwarf willow, selected for its abundant flowering. This lovely little shrub, wider than it is tall, develops numerous branches of a curious wine-red colour that are adorned in early spring with an abundance of large silvery catkins, surrounded by gold when ripe, at the same time as its green and velvety foliage appears. Well suited to small gardens, it thrives in sunny, well-drained borders and even in large, cool rockeries. Its branches covered in large silky catkins are stunning in bouquets.

Salix hastata belongs to the salicaceae family. It is a deciduous species native to wet mountain pastures in Europe and Central Asia. The 'Wehrhahnii' cultivar was discovered in a region of the Swiss Alps called Engadine. This small-sized bush exhibits a distinctive habit, more bushy than shrubby, composed of a multitude of knotty and branched stems near the ground. At maturity, this tiny willow will not exceed 1m (3ft) in height and 1m (3ft) 20cm (8in) in width. The young branches are covered in dark red to purplish bark, which becomes greyish over time. The deciduous foliage consists of alternate leaves, either elliptical or lanceolate, measuring between 3 and 8cm (1 and 3in) in length. The leaf has a marked mid-vein and is a matte dark green colour, covered in silky hairs when it buds. The highly ornamental and particularly abundant flowering takes place in April-May, sometimes just before the appearance of the leaves, but most often at the same time depending on the climate. The male flowers of this cultivar are grouped in egg-shaped catkins that elongate to measure 7cm (3in) in length, initially silvery and silky, releasing numerous golden-yellow stamens. This flowering is appreciated by bees that come to collect pollen and nectar.

Equally charming when planted alone, in borders or as a low hedge, hastate willow 'Wehrhahnii', with its knotty and colourful wood, possesses the unique and somewhat rugged charm of mountain plants. Its spring flowering is enchanting: it will be enhanced in a rocky environment, a border of plants chosen for their robustness, or a meadow of flowers. The sculptural design of its red branches, covered in catkins, also has its place in contemporary, urban, and small gardens. Pruning every three years after flowering encourages it to become bushier and produce numerous flowering branches. For example, you can plant 'Wehrhahnii' willow with perennial plants and shrubs from mountainous regions such as savory, helianthemums, Cytisus purpureus, Arabis, Alyssum, or campanulas. In an informal with well-drained soil that remains moist, it can be combined with spring-flowering shrubs such as flowering cherries, ornamental apple trees, or purple Berberis. Consider creating bouquets with its branches adorned with silvery and then golden aments. In a vase, they beautifully accompany those from flowering cherries and plum trees that will open in the warmth of the house.