Salix candida 'Iceberg Alley’

Salix candida ‘Iceberg Alley®’: Silver Foliage, Spring Catkins

A First Editions® shrub known for luminous foliage, Salix candida ‘Iceberg Alley®’ brings a crisp, silvery glow to sunny landscapes. Its powdery silver leaves add instant texture and contrast, especially beside deeper greens or bold-leaved shrubs. In spring, it offers another layer of interest with silver and yellow catkins accented by red stamens, a small detail that feels surprisingly showy up close. With an upright, rounded form, it stays neat and landscape-friendly while still looking soft and bright from a distance.

Plant Characteristics:

• Height: 90–180 cm
• Spread: 90–180 cm
• Flower Colour: Silver and yellow catkins with red stamens
• Flowering Period: Spring
• Foliage: Powdery silver foliage
• Sunlight Requirements: Full sun
• Soil Requirements: Moist, well-drained soil; adaptable once established

Uses and Benefits: This is a strong choice for brightening shrub borders, modern plantings, and sunny foundation beds where foliage contrast does the heavy lifting. The silver leaves are excellent for cooling down hot colour palettes, adding definition beside burgundy foliage, and lifting mixed evergreens. It also works well in naturalistic designs, along the edge of a rain garden, or anywhere you want a small shrub that reads as crisp, clean, and textural from spring through fall.

Care Instructions: Plant in full sun for the best silver colour and densest growth. Water regularly during establishment, then water during extended dry spells, especially in sandy soils. Mulch helps conserve moisture and keeps roots cool. Prune in late winter or early spring to maintain a tidy, rounded shape, and remove any weak or crossing branches to improve airflow and encourage fresh, vigorous growth.

History: Salix candida, commonly known as sageleaf willow, is valued for its naturally silvery foliage and early-season catkins. ‘Iceberg Alley®’ was selected for a compact, upright rounded habit and consistent foliage quality, and it is offered as part of the First Editions® collection.

Final Thoughts: If your planting needs a bright, silver highlight that looks good all season, ‘Iceberg Alley®’ delivers with clean foliage contrast and spring catkins that add a welcome spark at the start of the year.