Does it need a lot of water?

Yes, it prefers consistently moist to wet soil.

Can I grow it in a dry garden?

It will struggle unless you provide significant supplemental irrigation.

Plant guide

Eared willow.

Salix aurita

Pronounced SAY-liks aw-RY-tuh

Also known as Eared Willow

The eared willow is a charming, small shrub that loves damp, boggy ground. It gets its name from the small, ear-like stipules found at the base of its leaves. It is a fantastic choice for supporting local wildlife in wetter garden spots.

Another photo of eared willow — Photo by Clément Maouche (CC BY) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Deciduous shrub
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 2 to 5 days
Mature size: 2 to 3 meters
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 3 to 8
Bloom time: Early to mid spring

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist as this plant thrives in wet conditions. Watch for aphids on new growth during the spring. Prune back occasionally to maintain a tidy shape and encourage fresh stems.

Watering: Keep the soil very damp, as this willow does not like to dry out.
Feeding: A light application of balanced fertilizer in early spring is plenty.
Pruning: Prune in late winter or early spring to remove dead wood and shape the shrub.
Repotting: Repot only if the plant becomes rootbound in its container.
Soil: Moist, acidic, boggy soils
Soil pH: Acidic to neutral
Temperature: -30 to 25°C
Humidity: 60 to 90%

Safety

People: The plant is not considered toxic, but the bark contains compounds that mimic aspirin.
Children: The long, flexible stems are fun for play but can pose a minor eye-poking risk if children run through the shrub.
Contact allergens: The foliage can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: The pollen is windborne and may cause hay fever symptoms during the spring bloom.
Edibility: The bark contains salicin which can cause reactions in people sensitive to aspirin.

How to identify it

Small, rounded, wrinkled leaves
Ear-like stipules at leaf bases
Densely branched, bushy habit
Yellowish catkins in spring

Height: 1 to 3m
Spread: 1 to 3m
Leaves: green, gray-green, deciduous
Flowers: yellow, gray, 1 to 3cm
Fruit: brown, Late spring

Problems to watch for

Willow anthracnose · Fungal infection causing dark spots and leaf drop.
Aphids · Small insects that suck sap from new growth.

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: cuttings, seed
When to plant: spring, autumn

Group this willow with other moisture-loving plants to create a cohesive bog garden aesthetic.

Grows well with

Purple Moor Grass · They both thrive in the same damp, acidic soil conditions.
Marsh Marigold · This perennial adds bright color to the wet ground beneath the willow.

Similar species

Goat Willow · It is a larger relative that also enjoys damp conditions.

Science

Family: Salicaceae
Genus: Salix
Order: Malpighiales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Europe and western Asia.
Conservation: It is common and not of conservation concern.

It grows in damp heaths, marshes, and bogs where its roots can tolerate low oxygen levels.

Value to wildlife: early nectar source, larval host plant
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: wetland restoration, ornamental shrub, basketry material

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 5/9
Light: 7/9
Temperature: 3/9
Moisture: 8/9
Nutrients: 4/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need a lot of water?: Yes, it prefers consistently moist to wet soil.
Can I grow it in a dry garden?: It will struggle unless you provide significant supplemental irrigation.

Where the name comes from

Salix is the ancient Latin name for willow, while aurita refers to the ear-like stipules found on the twigs.

Good to know

The name aurita means eared, referring to the small leaf-like stipules at the base of the leaves.
It is a very hardy shrub that handles cold northern climates with ease.
It often hybridizes with other willow species in the wild.

Keep your eared willow growing

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This guide was generated with AI on October 19, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.