Salix purpurea
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- SAY-liks pur-PUR-ee-uh
- Description
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Purple Willow is a relatively small, rounded, flowering, deciduous shrub in the Salicaceae (willow) family. At maturity, it will reach a height of 1 to 2 feet with an equal spread. Plant it in moist soils. The bluish-green foliage is showy and the dense clusters of white flowers appear in spring. The genus name is the Latin name for this plant. The species name means purple referring to the purplish male flowers and purple young stems.
Purple Willow does best in average, medium to wet, well-drained soils in full sun to maximize blossoms. It will tolerate part shade, occasional dry spells, and poor soils. It prefers moist soils, even intermittently flooded ones. It prefers cool summer temperatures and may not do well in high summer heat and humidity (North Carolina is the southern most state supporting this plant.)
Purple Willow is dioecious and requires both male and female plants to produce seed.
The plant can become unruly over time, but you can prune in late winter to early spring to shape as desired. To re-invigorate the plant, you can cut it to the ground every 3 to 5 years. The wood is weak and, under stress, may crack. Branches may need protection from ice and snow. It can spread and develop colonies of plants over time.
This plant is a larval host plant for the Viceroy butterfly. Its preference for moist sites caused it to be introduced into North America to reduce erosion along stream banks and lake shores where it has naturalized along streams.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
Susceptible to blights, powdery mildew, leaf spots, gray scab and cankers. Insect pests include aphids, scale, borers, lacebugs and caterpillars.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- 'Nana'
- Tags:












- Cultivars / Varieties:
- 'Nana'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Salix
- Species:
- purpurea
- Family:
- Salicaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The bark is a source of salicin used to control pain. The twigs are flexible and often used in basketry.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe, Northern Africa east to Central Asia and Japan.
- Distribution:
- Introduced to Southern Canada, Southeastern United States and the Great Lakes.
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant supports Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) larvae which has two to three broods from May-September. Adult butterflies feed on decaying matter, aphid honeydew, and nectar from composite flowers.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Habit/Form:
- Broad
- Dense
- Mounding
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- The catkins on female shrubs produce small seed capsules which split open and release seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gray/Silver
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Catkin
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Grayish-white flowers blossom in April and May before the leaves appear. Catkins 1 1/4 inches long contain tiny flowers in dense clusters. Catkins emerge reddish purple but turn dark grayish white.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Oblanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Narrow 2 to 4 inch leaves are lustrous blue-green above and pale green beneath. Alternate, but opposite toward the tips of young shoots.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Young shoots are initially purplish, but turn light gray to grayish-brown as they age.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Border
- Hedge
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Compaction
- Deer
- Rabbits
- Wet Soil