Seasonal Wild Flowers

Latin name

Salix repens var. argentea

Family

Salicaceae

Flowering season

April to May

English distribution

It is found throughout the country apart from parts of the

Midlands and the Central South.

For a map see the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland –

Creeping Willow (all varieties)

Salix repens var. argentea the variety shown here.

Habitat

Creeping Willow is a native shrub growing in a range of

habitats.

Salix repens var. argentea grows on sand dunes and

dune slacks.

S. repens var. repens grows mainly on heaths and moors.

S. repens var fusca grows in East Anglian fens.

Description

Creeping Willow is a protrate or erect shrub growing up 

to 1.5m.

Catkins are ovoid to cylindrical, up to 2.5cm, erect, 

subsessile and silkily hairy becoming shaggy.

Male flowers have 2 stamens withbright yellow

anthers. Scales are ovoid and towards the top

reddish brown.. 

Female flowers have narrow ovoid overies up

to 2.5mm with an obvious style and bifid stigma.

The leaves in S. repens var argentea are rounder

and larger than the other varieties and both

surfaces are covered with silvery hairs.

Erect twigs are pubescent and reddish brown.