Plants grown in northern gardens: Woolly Willow
Woolly Willow (Salix lanata) is an evergreen
creeping or upright woody plant with strong branches and
thick annual shoots. In Iceland, Woolly Willow may reach
2m in cultivation. The leaves are broad, pointed and
covered with greyish hair. The catkins are thick and
bright yellow.
Woolly willow grows well in gardens where it may be
grown as a hedge. Woolly willow is tolerant of arid
conditions whether in gardens or in the wild. Woolly
willow is a dominant species of many heaths and sandy
habitats in Iceland and its sand-binding properties are
much praised.
The species is usually low-growing or absent if grazing
animals are present, while recovering rapidly following
protection of land. Woolly Willow is common at northern
latitudes and forms scrublands in Iceland, northern
Scandinavia and parts of Siberia. This species is also a
rare native of Scotland.
