Meadow Willow
Deciduous shrub reaching 2-4 m tall. Features narrow, lance-shaped leaves and slender catkins appearing in early spring. Prefers moist to wet soils and full sun to partial shade. Tolerates seasonal flooding. Provides food for pollinators and cover for wildlife. Useful for soil stabilization in wet areas. Suitable for wetland margins, rain gardens, and naturalized areas in moist sites. Native to northern North America.
Plant Details
Bloom Colour: Yellow (catkins)
Bloom Time: Early Spring
Sun Requirements: Sun to Part-Shade
Moisture: Moist to Wet
Phenology: Catkins emerge April before leaves. Leaves emerge May. Seeds disperse with cotton-like tufts in June. Yellow fall color develops October.
Wildlife Value: Excellent nectar source for hummingbirds, butterflies, and native bees; seeds eaten by small birds; deer resistant
Habit Over Time: Forms a medium-sized shrub with fine, arching branches that create an elegant, fountain-like form. Spreads slowly through root suckers but maintains a more restrained habit than other willows. The graceful structure allows filtered light to reach the ground, making understory planting possible.
Height: Medium to Tall (6-12 feet)