Willows are deciduous shrubs that often provide year-round visual interest between spring flowers known as catkins, stunning foliage, and colorful bark during the winter. What’s more, Willows can be ground hugging or rather large, so there is a cultivar for any space. Create a privacy hedge or add height or texture to a mixed bed with a Willow. These winter-hardy shrubs make excellent specimen plantings and are available in all shapes, colors and sizes to fit any landscape.
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Willows thrive in full sun and like damp growing conditions. They are often found in marsh or wetland environments and do well in areas with increased moisture, like near streams or lakes. Many shrubs, perennials and annuals have similar care needs and grow easily next to a Willow.
Shrubs To Plant With Willow
Willows are some of the earliest shrubs to bloom, with the catkins emerging often before the foliage. The ornamental leaves put on a stunning display while serving as a lovely backdrop for blooming shrubs like Viburnum and Oakleaf Hydrangea, which boast large, showy flower clusters. Mixing and matching these shrubs ensures there is always something eye-catching in the space.
Pair the Willow with evergreens like juniper or spruce to make it a focal point. A variegated Willow variety will stand out against the consistent greenery. The low profile of a creeping Juniper works well as a ground cover for Willows, while the tall and pyramidal form of a Spruce adds height and textural contrast to the open form of Willows.
Perennials To Plant With Willow
Meadow Rue has an open and airy appearance and white, pink, or purple flowers that bloom in the spring or summer. This perennial starts to bloom after the Willow flowers fade and begins to leaf out. Japanese, Louisiana, or Siberian Irises enjoy moist conditions and bloom after the Willow’s flowers fade. The Willow’s foliage provides a stunning background for the showy Iris flowers. The long-blooming flower plumes of Astilbe mimic the texture of the Willow catkins. Like the other perennials, Astilbes prefer rich, moist soil and bloom in late spring or summer, so these plants do not compete with one another.
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Artemisia is a low-profile perennial grown for its showy filagree foliage. The leaves are often deeply lobed and have a silvery-green hue. Artemisia grows well around the base of a Willow, where it can thrive in full sun.
Annuals To Plant With Willow
Annuals are a great way to mix things up each year while enjoying the consistency of the Willow. The lush foliage and tropical-looking flowers of Canna Lilies add a vibrant feel to a mixed planting. Canna Lilies often reach one to two feet tall, so they work well as a mid-layer in a planting.
Marigolds are prolific bloomers with dense forms that grow well alongside Willows. Full sun helps Marigolds look their best, and routine pruning keeps them full and bushy, so prune Marigolds at the same time you prune a Willow. Canna Lilies and Marigolds bloom from mid-summer until the first frost, providing a burst of color against the Willow’s greenery.
Photo by K M, unedited, Flickr, copyright CC BY 2.0 DEED
Best Companion Plants For Willow in Containers
Egyptian Papyrus thrives in full sun and damp conditions, making it a good container mate for Willow. The upright growth habit and umbrella-like foliage provide texture and create a unique pairing. Ajuga is a vigorous spreader that works as a filler in a container. Its colorful foliage and upright flower spikes dotted with blooms offer color and texture around the base of a Willow. Ajuga likes damp conditions, making it a good companion for Willow.
Vinca's trailing stems make it an excellent spiller in a container. Blooming varieties introduce color, while the glossy leaves give the plant a full and dense appearance. Container-grown plants need routine watering, which allows this plant to grow nicely alongside Willows.
Plants Not To Grow With Willow
Shade-loving plants like Impatiens and Caladium are not a good match for a planting of Willows. Full sun is necessary for Willows to thrive, but the same amount of light damages these annuals. Plants that prefer dry growing conditions, like succulents and Salvias, are also not good companions for Willows. Properly watering one plant would damage the other, and it would be hard to strike a balance in which both plants could thrive.
Best Plants To Grow With Willow
When it comes to Willow companions, plants that need full sun and damp conditions will grow best. Meadow Rue, Japanese Iris, and hydrangeas make excellent neighbors. Consider plants like Viburnum that bloom at different times so there is always something lovely to admire in the space.