Salix elaeagnos (18/10/2014, Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid)
Position: Full sun to partial shade
Flowering period: Late spring to early summer
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 4m
Eventual Spread: 5m
Hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a
Family: Salicaceae
Salix elaeagnos is a deciduous shrub with a dense upright habit. It grey/ green leaves are lanceolate with entire margins, up to 20cm long and 5mm broad. I autumn it leaves become yellow before they fall. This shrub is mostly dioecious and its flowers are slender, green catkins which are up to 6cm long and appear with the new leaves. The male catkins will have yellow anthers.
Salix elaeagnos, commonly known as Olive Willow, Rosemary Willow or Hoary Willow, is native to central and southern Europe. Salix elaeagnos is synonyms with Salix rosmarinifolia. This shrub has become naturalised in the UK.
The etymological root of the binomial name Salix is from the old Latin name for the willow tree and is possibly derived from the old Celtic sal meaning near and lis meaning water. Elaeagnos is derived from the Greek elaia meaning ’olive’ and agnos meaning ‘pure’, possibly referring to the fruit.
The landscape architect may find Salix elaeagnos useful as a low maintenance shrub. It may be used to stabilise banks or a a hedging species. Once established this shrub is drought tolerant.
Salix elaeagnos Leaf (18/10/2014, Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid)
Ecologically, Salix elaeagnos flowers are attractive to pollinating insects. Some species of Lepidoptera will consume the foliage in their larval form.
Salix elaeagnos prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.
Salix elaeagnos requires little to no maintenance. To keep a tidy apearance this shrub may be heavy pruned during the dormant season.