Dwarf Blue Leaf Arctic Willow

For a great look without any trouble, try the Dwarf Blue Leaf Arctic Willow (Salix purpurea 'Nana'). Like all Willows, this is a water-lover and tolerates most soils, unlike so many other shrubs that demand well-drained soils. This is a perfect plant for tough situations, and it always looks fantastic with an easy-care, casual charm.

Use this special shrub if you are "cursed" with heavy clay soils or wet soils. New construction often leaves poor fill soil, where it can be hard to grow things. Even soils near a heavily irrigated lawn can stay too wet for many plants.

In those cases, use the pretty, little, deciduous Dwarf Arctic Blue Willow. It is attractive and quite popular as a desirable hedge or specimen plant. You'll love the new purple stems in spring, and the fine-textured, silvery-blue leaves with a lighter underside. The wispy appearance creates kinetic movement in the landscape.

Key Features

• Blue-green, wispy foliage flashes silver underside
• Attractive purple young stems
• Grows in heavy clay and flooded soils
• Beautiful rounded shrub
• Provides an airy privacy screen
• Catches the wind for restful appeal year-round
• Tolerates wet areas
• Hardy and very low-maintenance
• Rabbit-resistant

Landscaping Uses

The Dwarf Blue Leaf Arctic Willow is an excellent choice for wet soils, problem areas, or as a versatile landscape accent. Its fine texture and graceful movement make it useful in many settings:

• Great for planting at the water's edge or in areas with consistently wet soil
• Performs well in heavy clay soils that do not drain well
• Makes a fine-textured backdrop for Roses or low-growing Hydrangeas
• Creates small hedges along walkways, driveways, or by garages
• Useful for covering electrical boxes, AC units, or the bottom of a deck
• Anchors and beautifies a rain garden while filtering runoff
• Softens the look of rigid Conifers, fences, corners of houses, or rock walls
• Provides an airy sense of privacy because it fills in all the way to the ground

Care & Maintenance

Sometimes this little Willow is called the Basket Willow because the slender, one-year-old purple stems are long and flexible. They'll bring winter interest and are hard pruned to 12 inches in spring. The stems can easily be woven into baskets or wound into plant supports. It really only needs a single, annual haircut to keep it looking its best.

The Dwarf Blue Leaf Arctic Willow thrives in USDA zones 4-7. This deciduous shrub is versatile enough to work in any soil type, including clay soils and areas that have a tendency to flood for short periods. Ensure it receives moderate to high amounts of rainfall or supplemental watering. Don't forget to order your Nature Hills Root Booster for lifelong mycorrhizal root support.

• Planting Time: Spring or fall
• Sun Requirements: Full sun for best color and growth
• Soil Requirements: Tolerates clay, wet, and compact soils; not suitable for very dry, sandy sites
• Moisture Needs: Moderate to high - check with the Finger Test and water regularly the first year
• Mulching: Always apply a 3-4 inch deep mulch layer (why mulch matters)
• Fertilization Needs: Light compost or balanced fertilizer in early spring
• Pruning Info: Heavily prune to 12 inches in late winter/early spring; can prune anytime during growing season
• Special Perks: Rabbit-resistant, hardy, low-maintenance, excellent for problem soils. It will not perform well in dry, arid conditions.

A Willow Worth Watching

Even in the slightest breeze, the undersides of the leaves sparkle and flash. The branches move and sway gracefully. Just like watching fish in an aquarium, watching your Dwarf Willows dance in the wind can be a very restful experience. Order your Dwarf Blue Leaf Arctic Willow today from Nature Hills and enjoy one of the most rewarding problem-solving shrubs in the garden!