What soil does White willow grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy, calcareous.

Is White willow hardy?

Hardy down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

Is White willow toxic to children?

No. Reliable sources list it as non-toxic to children.

How far from the house should White willow be planted?

Plant it at least 15 m from buildings. Keep it at least 4 m from paving.

When does White willow flower?

Flowering: April–May, yellow, green.

How much water does White willow need?

Water need: high. Drought tolerance: low.

White willow

Salix alba

White willow (Salix alba) is a large tree. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -34 °C. Drought tolerance: low. Non-toxic to children.

Illustration of White willow — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A native, very fast-growing, huge waterside tree whose narrow leaves are silky silver underneath. For gardens it is mostly sold as the golden weeping willow with yellow twigs hanging to the ground ('Tristis', now named Salix × sepulcralis 'Chrysocoma'), and as forms with orange-red ('Britzensis') or yellow ('Vitellina') winter stems or silver foliage ('Sericea'); the coloured-stem forms can be cut back hard every year and kept as shrubs. It belongs only in large gardens with moist soil, beside a pond or stream: its water-seeking roots block drains and lift paving, the branches are brittle, it drops a lot of litter and it is short-lived, so keep it well away from the house, pipes and the neighbours.

Watch out for

The wood is weak and brittle, so wind, snow and ice break branches easily, and leaves, twigs and dead branches keep falling under the crown. The shallow, water-seeking roots grow into drains and soakaways and lift paving, and hardly anything can be grown underneath. Many diseases attack it: anthracnose (shoot and leaf blight), rust, powdery mildew, leaf spots, cankers and root rot; pests include aphids, scale, flea beetles, sawflies, caterpillars and borers. On dry soil it struggles and declines early, and it is a short-lived tree.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: High
Care: High
Size after 10 years: 10 m × 7 m
Hardiness: down to -34 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D April–May, yellow, green

All details

Group	Large tree
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	10 m × 7 m
Ultimate size	15–30 m × 12–21 m
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	April–May, yellow, green
Water need	High
Drought tolerance	Low
Maintenance	High
Root aggressiveness	High
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 15 m
Distance from paving	at least 4 m
Litter	Leaves
Planting distance	1200 cm
For dogs	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For children	Non-toxic
Typical price	no data

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 17, 2026 · How our data is made

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