Salix repens aka Creeping Willow

Salix repens, or creeping willow, is a deciduous European shrub. It belongs to the willow family, Salicaceae. Its native range includes Britain and Ireland. It grows on wet heaths and moorland in temperate regions. Its range reaches from northern Europe into parts of southern Europe. This is a low, spreading plant, though its form varies.

Garden plants reach about 1.6–3.3 feet [0.5–1 metre] tall. Their spread reaches 3.3–4.9 feet [1–1.5 metres]. Plants take two to five years to reach full size. Creeping roots support thin stems and small green leaves. The leaves range from oval to oblong in shape. Fine, silky hairs coat the young shoots and leaves. The leaf undersides keep their hairs as they age. Small yellow-green catkins appear in spring, before the leaves open. Grafting can turn this shrub into a small weeping tree.

Grow creeping willow in full sun and deep, moist soil. It accepts clay, loam, and sand across a broad pH range. It can grow in moist soil with good drainage. It also tolerates poor drainage, but avoid shallow chalk soils. Both exposed and sheltered sites suit it. The RHS rates its hardiness as H6. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 4–8. Take softwood cuttings in early summer, or hardwood cuttings in winter.

Its low growth suits ground cover and smaller garden spaces. Small forms can fit into rock gardens. Other suggested settings include coastal, courtyard, cottage, and wildlife gardens. Its wide root system helps hold loose soil in place. It has uses on dunes, old waste tips, and slag heaps. The bark also provides tannin. Pests include aphids, caterpillars, sawflies, willow leaf beetles, and scale insects. Willow anthracnose, honey fungus, and rust can cause disease.

Its food value is low, despite some recorded edible uses. The inner bark can be eaten raw or cooked. Dried bark can also be ground and mixed with flour. Its strong bitterness makes it a food for times of scarcity. Young shoots can be eaten raw or cooked, but taste poor. Leaves also appear among its listed edible parts. Plants For A Future reports no known hazards. That report does not establish safety for every person or pet.