Salix sericea aka Silky Willow

Salix sericea, or silky willow, belongs to the willow family, Salicaceae. This deciduous shrub can also form a small tree. It grows wild in the eastern United States and Canada. Its Canadian range includes New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. It often grows along streams and other wet places. It is scarce in North Carolina's mountains and Piedmont. In gardens, it suits sites with a steady water supply.

This fast-growing plant reaches about 12 feet (3.7 metres) after 20 years. Its dense form has several upright stems. Chicago Botanic Garden describes its shape as mounded. The bark stays thin and smooth. Long, slender stems have a purple cast and grow straight. Their surface may be bare or bear silky hairs. The stem bases are brittle, and the wood is weak. The plant also has a coarse overall texture.

The simple leaves grow in an alternate pattern along stems. Each narrow, lanceolate blade has a toothed edge. Leaves look pale green, with silky hairs on their undersides. NC State describes blades about 2.5–4 inches long. Their width is about one-third of an inch. Small flowers form catkins, with shades of green, yellow, brown, or white. Chicago Botanic Garden lists bloom in March and April. NC State gives a broader season, from spring into early summer. The fruits are brown to copper-colored capsules.

Silky willow grows in sun as well as shade. It needs moist to wet soil and tolerates standing water. It accepts soil textures from sand through clay. Acid to neutral soil suits it; alkaline soil does not. Chicago Botanic Garden lists USDA zones 3–7. NC State extends that range through zone 8. Growers can raise it from seeds, stem cuttings, or root cuttings. Its wet-soil tolerance makes it useful near ponds and in rain gardens. It also fits naturalized sites, hedges, screens, and borders.

Native bees and honey bees pollinate the flowers. The plant feeds viceroy and Acadian hairstreak caterpillars. It also draws butterflies and moths and offers wildlife nesting value. Its limits include a short life, weak wood, and mess. NC State lists imported willow leaf beetle and giant willow aphid as pests. It also lists willow bladdergall mite, despite its general statement of no known problems. Neither source establishes edible uses or safety for people or pets.