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Shrub · Salicaceae family

Japanese willow

Salix integra

Full sun to part shade in a garden 1.3–2 m × 1.5–2 m to −29 °C

In short a 10-second read

SunFull sun to part shade
in a garden after 10 years1.3–2 m
in the wild up to 3 m
spacing 1.5 m
PlantingMarch–April, October–November
WinterNo winter protection

Where to plant and how much to water

Sun, soil and water.

It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average to moist soil.

Sun

Sun6 hours or more
Part shade3–6 hours
Shadeunder 3 h

Soil

tolerates any pH
acidicneutralalkaline
average to moistloamyhumus-richclay

Watering

keep the soil evenly moistless when it rains

Frost

−29 °C
no winter protectionleafless in winter

How much space it takes

Mature size.

The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).

1 m2 m3 m1.5–3 mspread 1.5–3 m
1.5–3 m× spread 1.5–3 m

Plant 1.5 m apart.

Reaches maturity in about 5–10 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.

Calendar

Through the year.

Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.

The year at a glance

Planting: JanuaryPlanting: FebruaryPlanting: MarchPlanting: AprilPlanting: MayPlanting: JunePlanting: JulyPlanting: AugustPlanting: SeptemberPlanting: OctoberPlanting: NovemberPlanting: DecemberFeeding: JanuaryFeeding: FebruaryFeeding: MarchFeeding: AprilFeeding: MayFeeding: JuneFeeding: JulyFeeding: AugustFeeding: SeptemberFeeding: OctoberFeeding: NovemberFeeding: DecemberJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PlantingFeeding
Now, in October: a good time for planting (container plant).
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Planting

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

container plant: March–April, October–November

Feeding

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

May–June

What to plant now (October) full list in October (244) →

Feeding

Nutrition.

Horn meal

up to 40 g/m² a year, if the soil needs it · May–June

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Pests and diseases

Common problems and what to do.

The most common problems in Central Europe. Protection is listed from the gentlest option.

Leaf beetles

pestsource covers the whole genus

What you will see

Adults and larvae both eat the leaf surface, the remains dry out and turn brown (willow/poplar).

When to look

Spring – summer

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • in gardens accept the damage – the host usually recovers
  2. By hand spring–summertolerate the damage; serious defoliation is not an annual event
Leaf beetlespest · spring – summer

What you will see

Adults and larvae both eat the leaf surface, the remains dry out and turn brown (willow/poplar).

When to look

Spring – summer

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • in gardens accept the damage – the host usually recovers
  2. By hand spring–summertolerate the damage; serious defoliation is not an annual event
Sources (2)

What to combine it with

Same needs, different flowering.

They share the same sun and soil and flower in other months — so the bed flowers for longer.

Frequently asked

Quick answers.

Does Japanese willow tolerate shade?

It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.

How much space does Japanese willow need?

At maturity 1.5–3 m wide and 1.5–3 m tall; recommended spacing 1.5 m.

Leaf beetles — what can you do?

in gardens accept the damage – the host usually recovers tolerate the damage; serious defoliation is not an annual event

Sources (14) Checked 24 October 2026

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