Salix simulatrix - Dwarf willow

Salix x simulatrix is a compact and slow-growing Willow, which forms a low and spreading cushion. Its medium to dark green foliage is composed of very small leaves with a slightly glossy surface. In spring, catkins appear before or at the same time as the foliage, bringing a touch of silver and then gold. This easy to grow species thrives in a wide variety of soils, as long as they retain moisture, and enjoys full sun, tolerating partial shade. It is an ideal hardy plant for creating a natural scene in a rockery.

This dwarf Willow belongs to the Salicaceae family, which is rich in about 55 genera, but few are known to gardeners, except for Willows and Poplars, as well as Azara in areas with mild winters, and Idesia appreciated by enthusiasts for its beautiful leaves. Willows are much more widespread with around 360 species mainly in the northern hemisphere and offer a diversity of forms, ranging from tall trees, some with weeping habit, to dwarf shrubs.
Salix x simulatrix belongs to this category of miniature shrubs. It is native to northern Europe, with a wide geographical range. Slow-growing, only growing 10 to 15 cm per year, it spreads along the ground to form a cushion 30 to a maximum of 50 cm in height, and 80 to 100 cm in spread. The main branches are dark brown and, produce a profusion of reddish-brown lateral branches, forming a dense and somewhat tangled network. The short branches are often curved and tend to stand upright at their tips. In spring, they are covered with small, more or less ovate leaves, measuring only 1.5 to 2 cm in length, carried on short petioles. Their upper surface is green, relatively dark and slightly shiny, while the lower, hairy surface is greyish or silvery.
Flowering takes place between March and May, sometimes starting before the appearance of the leaves, sometimes at the same time depending on the climate. Male and female subjects are separate individuals, as with all Willows. In this species, the catkins are oval to elongated and the same size as the leaves. They are very dense, a silvery colour at first, then turning a decorative golden yellow. At the end of the season, the deciduous foliage can turn yellow before falling to the ground, revealing the dense branching of the shrub.

This hardy, dwarf Willow will delight rockery enthusiasts, especially since its tolerance to limestone allows for a wider planting range than, for example, Salix repens. Its natural silhouette is particularly appreciated in a rockery where a natural rather than horticultural aspect is sought, and its miniature foliage is an undeniable asset. It can be associated with other rockery plants, especially small perennials to match its compact proportions. Mossy Saxifrage (Saxifraga arendsii Adebar) is one of them, forming a small green cushion resembling moss and which, in spring, is covered with tiny white flowers. Helianthemum nummularium is also a small ground cover well suited to rockeries, and it offers pretty single, bright yellow flowers throughout the summer. In the driest part of your rockery, plant the Carthusian Pink (Dianthus carthusianorum), whose fine green foliage is adorned with pretty small dark pink flowers in summer.