Purple willow (Salix purpurea) is a shrub that can grow 3m – 8m tall and 3m – 8m wide. In this growing guide we’ll learn the cultivation details and how to plant Purple willow (Salix purpurea).
This plant has several common names including: purple willow, purple osier, bitter willow or basket willow.
This is a deciduous plant that takes 10-20 years to reach full maturity.
In this article
Plant profile
Common name: purple willow, purple osier, bitter willow, basket willow
Scientific name: Salix purpurea
Plant type: Shrubs
Habit: Spreading / Branched
Height: 3m – 8m
Spread: 3m – 8m
Foliage: Deciduous
Sunlight: Full Sun
Soil: Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Moist but well drained, Poorly drained
Garden type: Coastal, Wildlife Gardens
Planting type: Hedging & Screens, Low Maintenance
Seasonal colors
| Season | Stem | Foliage | Flower | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
How to plant Purple willow (Salix purpurea) – image source
Shrubs are fundamental elements in any garden.
They add color and interest throughout the seasons with their wide variety of flowers, foliage, fruits, trunks and stems.
Whatever the size or style of your garden, the permanent woody structure or the foliage of evergreen shrubs will give the space shape and dimension.
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How to plant
In this section we will learn how to plant Purple willow (Salix purpurea), know its needs in terms of soil, watering and sun exposure.
Soil
Purple willow (Salix purpurea) is not a demanding plant regarding the type of soil and can grow in clay, loam or sand.
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Clay soil is composed of more than 25 percent clay particles. These particles have a high moisture holding capacity and the soil is heavy to dig and can be waterlogged in winter (dry in summer).
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The loam soil is dark, rich in organic matter but balanced in minerals. It offers the best of all worlds, retaining enough water for the plants, but allowing excess moisture to drain away. This is the most desired type of garden soil, perfect for most plants.
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Sandy soil is light, porous and very easy to drain. It is a soil poor in organic matter and nutrients. It is composed of relatively large mineral particles that allow water to drain quickly.
It is not very sensitive to soil acidity or alkalinity and grows well in soils with pH acid, alkaline or neutral.
Regarding drainage, Salix purpurea likes to grow in moist but well drained or humid or poorly drained soils.
Sunlight
Purple willow (Salix purpurea) should be grown in full sun places.
Cultivation profiles – Growing Purple willow (Salix purpurea) – Xemenendura, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
