Species Hooker's willow
white-yellow flowers with olive stems and lime leaves

Hooker's willow

Salix hookeriana

Also Known As - coastal willow
Hooker's willow (Salix hookeriana) is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree native to the Rocky Mountains. With its smooth bark and slightly weeping habit, this willow is a great choice for mountain vistas and natural landscaping. The green foliage turns golden in the fall, and in the winter, the twisted branches offer visual interest. Flowering takes place in the spring, with fragrant yellow-green catkins. Hooker's willow can grow in a variety of soils, from dry to moist, and prefers full sun to part shade. It is also tolerant of severe cold temperatures and is a tough and resilient species.

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Frequent

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Cutting,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

6

Flowers:

Green-yellow Flowers In Spring

Sun:

Full sun, Part sun/part shade

Soil:

Bog

Fruits:

Fruits Ready In Fall

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green,yellow

Growth Rate:

High

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Hooker's willow should be watered every 5-10 days, depending on the weather. During warm weather, the plant should be watered more often. During cooler weather, water less often. When watering, thoroughly soak the soil. Letting the soil dry out fully before watering again is important for proper plant health. Additionally, it's important to keep the foliage dry and avoid wetting it when watering.

sunlight

Hooker's willow is a deciduous shrub species that prefers full sun and at least 6 or more hours of direct sunlight per day. The plant does best when it receives sunlight during the mid-morning and mid-afternoon when the sun's rays are weaker. In summer months, the plant should be shaded from the strongest rays of the day, particularly during noon. In winter, the plant should receive as much sunshine as possible as long as it is not too intense.

pruning

Hooker's willow should be pruned lightly each year in the early spring before the new growth appears. Care should be taken to only prune dead and damaged branches, as this type of willow can become disfigured if heavily pruned. When pruning, make sure that the cuts are clean and angled slightly outward so that water can run away from the bud. Prune only the sides and not the top of the tree. It is best to prune the Hooker's willow in gradually decreasing amounts, so that it retains some of its natural form.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Harvest Fruit

The harvesting season for Hooker's willow typically begins in late summer, usually in August or September.

Starts Flowering

Hooker's willow typically starts flowering in April.

Harvest Fruit

The harvesting season for Hooker's willow typically begins in late summer, usually in August or September.

Hardiness Map