Salix purpurea 'Eugenii' - Purple Willow
A male clone with ornamental
qualities that match its many uses as a basket
willow. Very hardy and vigorous, it has
a striking presence when used as a specimen. A
noticeable feature is the colour change of the
catkins going from purple to red and ending with
a pale yellow.
Due to its very flexible branches, it is highly
suited to use in wattle fences.
Very similar to S.
purpurea ssp lambertiana.
There are two ways to grow this plant - pruned
or left to grow to its natural form. Read our
page about pruning
willows to find out more about coppicing and
the resulting different plant form with an emphasis
on colorful stems for winter interest.
According to Christopher Newsholme in the book
Willow: The Genus Salix, Salix purpurea is
bitter and unpalatable to livestock and rabbits.
Description: small pyramidal tree; 3-5 m (10-16')
in height; decorative narrow leaves; showy catkins;
highly ornamental throughout the year
Conditions: full sun to part shade; thrives
with regular deep watering; tolerates a wide variety of soil
types; prune every 1-3 years
Coldest zone: 3 (find your
zone; further info on plant hardiness)
This picture was taken in October and is of a
group of two year old plants that are coppiced
in the late winter every year.