Japanese Fantail Willow (Salix sachalinensis ‘Sekka’ (also listed as Salix udensis ‘Sekka’)

Sun Needs:

• Full sun to partial sun
• Best growth and form in full sun
• Tolerates wet soils and is ideal for rain gardens or near water features

Bloom Time:

• Late winter to early spring
• Produces gray catkins before leaf-out

Size:

Height: 10 to 15 feet
Width: 10 to 15 feet or more, with a spreading habit

Attributes:

• Distinctive flattened, fan-shaped stems (fasciation)
• Fast-growing and adaptable
• Silvery-gray catkins in early spring
• Attractive green foliage through summer
• Can be used as a specimen, screen, or in floral design
• Native to Japan

Care Tips:

• Plant in moist, fertile, well-draining soil
• Prefers consistent moisture; ideal for wet or low-lying areas
• Prune in late winter to control size and encourage new fasciated growth
• Can be coppiced (cut back hard) to rejuvenate

Pest watch:

• Susceptible to common willow pests like aphids and leaf spot; monitor regularly
• Short-lived compared to other shrubs, but offers high ornamental value