Shrubs🌿 Native to the NetherlandsVery hardy — tolerates frost down to -30°C

Almond Willow

Salix triandra

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Almond Willow (Salix triandra) is a native willow species naturally found in moist to wet habitats. This shrub or small tree grows primarily along riverbanks, canals, ditches, ponds, wetlands, and damp thickets. Its leaves are narrow, glossy green, and somewhat resemble almond leaves. In April and May, the Almond Willow blooms with slender catkins. The species is dioecious: male and female catkins usually grow on separate plants. It thrives best in nutrient-rich, humus-heavy, and moist to wet soil. Due to its strong root binding properties, it is highly suitable for natural shorelines, wet hedges, osier beds, water edges, and native thickets.

Year calendar

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
🌸Blooms
🐝Provides nectar
🍓Bears fruit
🍂Has autumn colour

Pruning period

✂️Best pruning period: Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
✂️ Pruning period

Best pruning period

Almond Willow tolerates pruning well. Prune during winter dormancy to rejuvenate the shrub or to manage it as an osier/coppice willow. In ecological plantings, leave some older branches standing to provide structure and shelter.

Botanical profile

Site & soil

Sun, Half shade

Soil type: Sand, Clay, Loam, Peat, Humus-rich

Moisture need: Moderately moist, Moist, Wet / marshy

pH: Slightly acidic (5.5–6.5), Neutral (6.5–7.5)

Nutrient richness: Moderately nutrient-rich, Nutrient-rich

Humus content: Moderately humus-rich, Humus-rich, Peaty, Humus-poor

Water drainage: Moisture-retentive, Poorly draining

Appearance & season

Mature height: 400-600cm

Bloom: Apr-May

Autumn colour: Yellow-green to yellow. The autumn color is not particularly striking; its ornamental value lies mainly in its glossy leaves, catkins, and natural riverbank growth.

Properties

Salt sensitive: Yes

Edible: No

Scent: The flowers do not have a strong floral scent. The catkins are primarily notable for their early nectar and pollen value for bees, bumblebees, and other insects.

Ecological value

Almond Willow is ecologically highly valuable, especially for early-season insects. The catkins provide pollen and nectar to bees, bumblebees, hoverflies, and other floral visitors in April and May. Furthermore, willows are crucial host plants for many caterpillars and leaf-eating insects. The shrub provides shelter for birds and small animals along banks and in damp thickets. Due to its abundance of insects, it also benefits birds that feed their young with caterpillars and other small insects, making it a robust species for promoting biodiversity in wet, natural plantings.

Food web & Biodiversity

🐛 Caterpillars & mothsVery useful

🐝 Bees & bumblebeesVery useful

🪰 HoverfliesVery useful

🦋 ButterfliesExtremely useful

🪲 Beetles & insectsExtremely useful

🐦 BirdsVery useful

🐿️ MammalsVery useful

🐞 Other animalsVery useful

Almond Willow is particularly valuable due to its early catkins, high insect-attracting capacity, and vigorous growth along water edges. The species fits well in wet thickets, osier beds, and nature-friendly shorelines.

Distribution in the Netherlands