Iceberg Alley® Sageleaf Willow

Name: Iceberg Alley® Sageleaf Willow
Brand: First Editions
SKU: 22119
Price: 81.09 USD
Availability: InStock

Salix candida 'Jefberg'

First Editions®

$81⁰⁹

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In Stock

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Find your Growing Zone

Plant Size

#3 Container

Product variants

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: Provide full sun, meaning at least 6 hours of direct daylight, to ensure the foliage develops its signature intense silver color. If planted in too much shade, the shrub tends to get leggy and the leaves will appear more green than silver.
Soil: This plant naturally thrives in moist locations, so it loves soil that holds water well. If you have heavy clay, it will likely be quite happy, but if your soil is sandy and dry, amend it generously with compost to help retain necessary moisture.

Watering Requirements

Willows are naturally thirsty plants, so keep the soil consistently moist—never soggy—during the first year while the root system establishes. Once established, it is moderately drought tolerant, though inconsistent watering can cause the plant to drop leaves or look sparse.

Pruning Tips

The CSV data suggests pruning in Late Winter, which is the best time to encourage vigorous new growth and the brightest silver foliage for the season ahead. However, note that this plant blooms on old wood; if you want to enjoy the silver catkins (pussy willows) in early spring, wait to prune until immediately after the flowers fade.

Fertilizer Needs

Feed your willow with a balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer in early spring as new green growth begins to appear. Avoid applying high-nitrogen fertilizers late in the summer, as this encourages soft, new growth that can be damaged by the first fall frost.

Delivery and Shipping

Preorder Shipping Schedule

We ship your plants when it's safe to transport them to your zone. Dates are estimated and subject to weather delays.

Zone 3-4	Week of March 30th
Zone 5	Week of March 16th
Zone 6-12	Week of March 2nd

Shipping Rates

Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Understanding Our Container Sizes

At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes

Quart

Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.

#1 Container

Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.

#2 Container

Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.

#3 Container

Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.

#5 Container and Larger

Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.

Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?

Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.

Root Pouch Containers

Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:

Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.

Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.

Full Root Pouch planting guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size	Plant Age	Best For
Quart	6 mo to 1 yr	Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings.
#1 Container	1 to 2 yrs	Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners.
#2 Container	2 to 3 yrs	Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment.
#3 Container	3 to 4 yrs	Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size.
#5 and larger	4+ yrs	Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact.

Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

Dazzling Silver First Editions® Iceberg Alley® Sageleaf Willow

Incredible Silver Foliage
Rounded Form
Fuzzy Yellow Catkins with Showy Red Stamens in Spring
Nectar for Pollinators
Cut Flower Arrangements
Tolerates Wet Soil
Extremely Cold Hardy

Make a cool-toned splash with easy-care First Editions® Iceberg Alley® Sageleaf Willow (Salix candida 'Jefberg'). You'll love this rugged, rounded shrub as a silver-frosted accent.

Wispy, silver-leaved Willow leaves are impossible to ignore. Their silvery-blue color may look frozen, but the leaves will shimmer and shake a flashing dance in your yard.

Iceberg Alley is a special cultivar of a native plant. It was found in frigid Newfoundland and Labrador, and can handle any cold the United States might toss its way.

Add a marvelous look to low-lying areas of your yard. Weave them into your mixed plantings as an exquisite iced layer of color.

This tenacious plant sparkles in the springtime. On par with Pussy Willows' dramatic display, Iceberg Alley produces attractive catkins at the ends of branches.

Trim a few of the upright branches for cut flower arrangements indoors. You'll love how the red stamens "pop" against the tiny yellow flowers.

Honey bees appreciate their nectar, too. This is a wonderful plant to include near a Victory Garden if you want to bring those beneficial pollinators to visit your tomato plants and Cherry trees.

In full foliage, Iceberg Alley Sageleaf Willow will stop you in your tracks with their icy color. Fuzzy leaves catch the sunlight and twinkle as they shift back and forth in the breeze.

Add a marvelous sense of kinetic energy in your plantings. You'll be so pleased by both the sight and gentle sound of the wind moving through the dramatically striking foliage.

Its dense and compact form makes it perfect for a specimen plant to add color to a small yard. It grows in damp soils, so can be a valuable wetland garden accent and used in Rain Gardens.

Iceberg Alley Sageleaf Willow is the perfect ornamental addition for tough areas in your landscape. You can even grow them in containers to decorate your balcony!

Order today, and we'll ship it to you when the time is right for planting in your area. Enjoy this outstanding native shrub in your space this season.

How to Use First Editions Iceberg Alley Sageleaf Willow in the Landscape

Leverage the unique, silver-colored foliage to great effect in a mixed border. They contrast so well as a layer in front of burgundy-black foliage shrubs like First Editions® Fireside® Ninebark.

Create a solid low hedge by planting them 30 inches apart on center. You can also choose to repeat them as individual plants along the length of your border with at least four feet of space to spread.

These eye-catching, formally rounded shrubs look amazing in foundation plantings, as well. Line either side of your sidewalk with a hedge for a very special sense of entry and a huge boost of curb appeal.

Iceberg Alley is a great choice for a swampy area where other plants struggle to survive. This Willow loves water, and can be included in a planned Rain Garden to filter polluted runoff water before it hits the storm drain.

Another use for this noteworthy cultivar is in Easy Gardens. Low-maintenance Iceberg Alley Sageleaf Willow can be used in a long sinuous curve near your patio seating area.

Rest and relax with family and friends, listening to the susurrus sound of the slightest breeze playing through its upright branches. Let your creativity soar with this selection!

Plant them in large outdoor containers on either side of your front door. They develop a very sophisticated shape and easily elevate the tone of your property.

Commercial property owners can achieve the same visual impact. Make the most of any dip or hollow on your land with these easy-care, silvery beauties.

#ProPlantTips for Care

Plant in full sun for the best performance. They look incredible with at least six hours of direct sunlight a day.

It thrives in most soils, including those that stay moist or wet. This valuable plant is worth its weight in gold when designing a lush habitat in low-lying areas.

Provide a moderate amount of water on a regular basis. Mulch over the root system to keep the soil cool, but pull it back away from the stems.

Every third year after flowering is done, cut to renewal prune the oldest stems down to ground level. You'll leave the youngest, thinnest stems in place to take their turn to shine.

Exceptional performance and handsome good looks are what you'll get when you plant Iceberg Alley Sageleaf Willow. Order today, and be thrilled with the high quality of our plant material, shipped directly to your doorstep.

Botanical Name

Salix candida 'Jefberg'
Class
- Fagales
Species

candida
Cultivar

Jefberg
Growing Zones

3-6
Height

3-6 ft
Width

3-6 ft
Sunlight
- Full sun
Growth Rate

Moderate
Flower Color
- Red
- White
Leaf Color
- White
- Green
Native

Yes
Bloom Period

Early Spring, Late Spring
Does Not Ship To

AK, HI, ID, MT, PR

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Growing Zones 3-6

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Frequently Asked Questions

What USDA hardiness zones is Iceberg Alley® Sageleaf Willow suitable for?

Iceberg Alley® Sageleaf Willow is extremely cold hardy, suitable for USDA zones 2-7. This cultivar was discovered in frigid Newfoundland and can handle any cold the United States might deliver. Plant it confidently in northern gardens where other shrubs struggle to survive.

How tall and wide does Iceberg Alley® Sageleaf Willow grow at maturity?

Iceberg Alley® Sageleaf Willow typically reaches 3-4 feet tall and wide at maturity, forming a dense, compact rounded shrub. This manageable size makes it perfect for smaller yards or as a specimen plant. Shop at Nature Hills for this cold-hardy native cultivar.

Does Iceberg Alley® Sageleaf Willow have invasive roots, and how far from foundations or septic systems should it be planted?

Iceberg Alley® Sageleaf Willow has a compact, non-invasive root system unlike weeping willows. This dense shrub stays manageable and won't threaten foundations or septic systems. Plant it at least 5-6 feet from structures to allow for its mature spread and enjoy worry-free growing.

How much water does Iceberg Alley® Sageleaf Willow need, and can it tolerate wet or moist soils?

Iceberg Alley® Sageleaf Willow thrives in wet soils and tolerates consistently moist conditions exceptionally well. This native cultivar naturally grows in damp environments and makes an excellent choice for rain gardens or low-lying areas. Plant it where drainage is poor or soils stay wet year-round.

Is Iceberg Alley® Sageleaf Willow deer-resistant and does it attract pollinators?

Iceberg Alley Sageleaf Willow attracts honey bees with its nectar-rich spring catkins but deer resistance isn't documented for this cultivar. The fuzzy yellow catkins with red stamens provide valuable early season pollinator food. Plant near vegetable gardens to draw beneficial insects to crops, available at naturehills.com.

When is the best time to prune Iceberg Alley® Sageleaf Willow, and how should it be done?

Prune Iceberg Alley® Sageleaf Willow in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Since it produces attractive catkins in spring, avoid heavy pruning during bloom time. Remove dead or damaged branches and lightly shape as needed to maintain its natural rounded form.

Can Iceberg Alley® Sageleaf Willow be grown in containers or on a balcony?

Iceberg Alley® Sageleaf Willow can grow in large containers but may struggle long-term due to its preference for consistently moist soil. This cold-hardy shrub develops a dense, rounded form that needs adequate root space. Use a substantial container with excellent drainage yet moisture retention for best results.

Does Iceberg Alley® Sageleaf Willow work well in rain gardens or swampy areas?

Yes, Iceberg Alley® Sageleaf Willow thrives in wet conditions and makes an excellent rain garden plant. This hardy shrub naturally tolerates damp soils and can handle waterlogged areas where other plants struggle. Plant it in low-lying wet spots for reliable silver foliage color.