Salix purpurea 'Gracilis' – 'Gracilis' Purple Osier Willow (Dwarf Arctic Willow)

'Gracilis' Willow is a prized ornamental shrub, valued for its elegant form and fine foliage. This variety of purple osier willow develops a compact, rounded habit that brings texture to the garden year-round. Its greatest quality, besides its ease of care, is the visual interest it provides even in winter, thanks to the unique colour of its stems.

• Foliage: It displays dense and fine deciduous foliage. The narrow, elongated leaves have a lovely blue-green hue on top and a lighter (glaucous) underside. In the fall, the foliage transforms into a luminous yellow.
• Flowering: In early spring, well before the leaves appear, small, discreet catkins in a purple or reddish colour emerge along the stems, adding an early touch of colour.
• Light: It thrives in full sun but also adapts well to a location in partial shade.
• Habit: It forms a very dense, multi-stemmed shrub that develops a naturally rounded and compact habit. Its base remains full right to the ground.
• Growth: Fast. It is a shrub that can live for 40 years or more. It reaches a height of 1.2 to 1.5 m and a spread of 1.2 to 2.1 m.
• Moisture: It prefers average to moist soil conditions.
• Soil: It is an exceptionally adaptable plant that grows in almost all soil types, regardless of pH. It handles both dry conditions and some standing water.
• Hardiness: Extremely hardy, it faces the harsh winters of Zone 2 without any problem.
• Watering: It requires regular watering while establishing, but proves very versatile afterwards.
• Resistance: It resists deer well and handles urban pollution very well.

• Types of Use: Its fine texture and dense habit make it an excellent choice for mass plantings or for creating formal or informal hedges. It also integrates perfectly into borders to add texture.
• Ornamental Features: It offers year-round interest. Its delicate summer foliage and fall colour are followed by the spectacle of its young, dark purple stems, which are particularly visible and attractive in the winter garden.

• Fertilizing: It generally does not require any fertilizer to perform well.
• Pruning: It tolerates pruning very well. Prune in late winter or very early spring to remove dead wood and encourage vigorous growth, which also promotes a more intense colour on the new stems.
• Planting: Plant it in well-drained to moist soil, in sun or partial shade. It is an easy plant that establishes quickly.