Salix gracilistyla Mt. Aso

Salix gracilistyla ‘Mt. Aso’ is a compact, deciduous pussy willow prized for its vivid pink male catkins, which open on bare stems in late winter to early spring before the foliage appears. Well suited to Irish conditions, it grows best in full sun or light shade and in moist, fertile, well-drained soil, tolerating both clay and sandy ground. A striking choice for winter interest in mixed borders or near paths where the early catkins can be appreciated, it is fully hardy and responds well to pruning after flowering to maintain a neat framework and encourage vigorous shoots for next season’s display; expect an eventual size of around 1–2m.

To help give a clear sense of scale, the stone wall shown in our photos measures approximately 265cm in height. We also use familiar garden tools as visual references: a digging fork (110cm tall) and a hand fork (30cm tall). These are included purely as size guides to help you better judge proportions when viewing the images.

Position: Full sun to light shade

Rate of Growth: Fast

Soil: Moist, fertile, well-drained; tolerates clay or sandy soils

Hardiness: Fully hardy

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Plant at a Glance