Salix x erdingeri - Willow

Salix x erdingeri is a hybrid Willow of S. caprea and S. daphnoides. It forms a spreading and not very dense bush of about 4 to 5 m in height. Its flowering takes place before the leaves appear, in late winter, with large, silver, hairy catkins that are very impressive on the dark and shiny shoots. This willow is a hardy plant, to be grown in slightly deep, rather moist to wet soil. Its branches covered with velvety catkins are superb as cut flowers.

Salix x erdingeri belongs to the Salicaceae family. It is a cross between the species Salix caprea and S. daphnoides. The first parent, the goat willow, is native to Central Europe and Central and Northern Asia. The goat willow is a pioneering and ubiquitous species, a light-loving species less exclusively linked to wet areas than most other species in the Salix genus. The second parent, Salix daphnoides, is found throughout Europe up to the subalpine zone. It prefers moist and rich soils.

Salix x erdingeri forms a bush with a not very dense crown that reaches 4 to 5 m in height at maturity. The branches are hairy when young, then bare, yellow-brown to red-brown. The leaves are obovate-oblong, elliptical to obovate, 4 to 8 cm long, pointed at both ends, toothed or wavy. They are felted when young, then hairless, smooth, dark green and shiny. The flower catkins are extremely large, 6 to 8 cm long, thin and cylindrical, with long silky oval bracts. Flowering takes place in late winter with large silver and hairy catkins.

Salix x erdingeri prefers a sunny location on moist to wet soils. The ideal substrate is loamy-sandy, loamy-gravelly or clay-sandy, as like its second parent, it appreciates the gravel and sand of rivers and floodplains. It is very hardy. Prune it every year after flowering to encourage it to thicken and produce many flowering branches. It can be placed individually, surrounded by early-flowering bulbs (snowdrops, crocuses, fritillaries, hyacinths), in an informal hedge or at the back of a border. It will be perfect in a naturally inspired garden. Consider creating cut flower compositions with its branches adorned with silver catkins. In a vase, they beautifully accompany those of Prunus triloba, flowering cherry and plum trees that will be awakened by the warmth of the house.

Properties:

Like all willows, this species contains a substance similar to aspirin in its bark. It is highly nectar-rich and honey-producing: bees that forage on it produce a honey that is golden yellow, iridescent green, and takes on amber to beige hues as it ages. Its flavour is sweet, both floral and slightly woody. Its foliage was once used as fodder for goats.