Salix gracilistyla 'Mount Aso'

The stems of this wonderful form are clothed with fuzzy pink catkins in late winter and early spring, which are impossible not to stroke each time you pass. These look their best as they start to swell in mid- to late winter and make a wonderfully eye-catching feature for the winter garden. Even when the flowering has finished, the lush foliage, which has a silvery reverse, makes a great backdrop throughout the spring and summer for other plants that are just starting to bloom. Introduced by a breeder who specialises in cut flowers, the stems look equally impressive when cut and added to the vase.