Black Skin Willow | Salix myrsinifolia

Blackskin Willow is a compact, fast-growing shrub with one of the most dramatic stem displays in the winter garden — deep glossy black-purple stems that look striking on their own and exceptional when planted alongside willows with red, yellow, or orange stems. Coppice it hard each winter and it rewards you with the most vivid new growth and the greatest volume of stems for cutting. The rods are highly prized for basketry and living willow structures, turning a deep reddish-black when dried. Early catkins provide useful pollinator forage before most other plants have woken up, and the rounded deep green summer foliage is handsome in its own quiet way. Latin Name: Salix myrsinifolia 'Blackskin' Site and Soil: Full sun to part shade; prefers moist to wet soils — well suited to pond margins, rain gardens, low spots, and creek banks; tolerates average garden soils with reasonable moisture Size at Maturity: Up to 8' h unpruned; annual coppicing keeps it compact and maximizes stem production Pests & Diseases: Vigorous and generally trouble-free; occasional canker and leaf spot are minimal with good siting and air circulation USDA Zone: 4–8 A Note on Siting: Like all willows, Blackskin has a moisture-seeking root system. Keep it away from septic systems, underground pipes, and foundations and give it an open area where its roots have room to range freely.