It was just introduced last year but should be in garden centers now. ![]() ‘Iceberg Alley’ would look fabulous with shrubs that have red to purple foliage such as Ninebarks (‘Summer Wine’, ‘Diablo’, ‘Center Glow’, ‘Ginger Wine’) and some spirea. It’s rated to zone 2, so that means all ya’ll can plant this one! ‘Iceberg Alley’ is a male plant that produces pollen and nectar, making it attractive to honeybees, bumblebees and some butterflies! This beauty has no significant pests or disease issues. It grows best in full sun sites and tolerates pruning beautifully. StamensĪs with most Salix, it can tolerate moist soils. It blooms in spring with a very pretty silver catkin with red stamens that can be cut for early spring decoration. Iceberg Alley flowering – silver catkin with red stamens Growing to 3 to 6 feet tall and wide, it adds texture with it’s soft fuzzy foliage and contrast with its silvery shade. ‘Iceberg Alley’ sageleaf willow sounded as refreshing as sticking your head in the freezer when you’re having a hotflash! This is one cool stand-out shrub in your landscape. Sage willow ‘Iceberg Alley’ – it’s Latin name is above Debbie Lonnee is the Product Development manager for Bailey Nurseries and introduces us to this wonderful small shrubs in the article. In this withering heat, I remembered a cool plant that was highlighted in my Northern Gardener magazine. Garden Bite radio show: ‘Iceberg Alley’ – a refreshing choice shrub for 2020 She works in the horticultural industry and gardens in South St. This article by Debbie Lonnee originally appeared in the July/August 2020 issue of Northern Gardener. Introduced in 2019, Iceberg Alley should be available in local garden centers this summer and fall. It looks especially striking next to shrubs with red to purple foliage, such as the many ninebarks on the market. Pair it in the foundation planting with Hydrangea paniculate, which blooms in mid- to late summer, or with other shrubs with foliage colors that will contrast with the silver. ![]() It is propagated via softwood cuttings and is protected by a plant trademark. It is best grown in a site that gets about six hours of direct sunlight daily. Researchers in Canada observed it to be a favorite of honeybees, bumblebees, syrphid flies and some butterflies.Īs with most Salix, it tolerates moist soils but does not require them. Iceberg Alley is a male plant, which produces pollen and nectar. In spring, it produces a pretty silver catkin with red stamens that can be cut for early spring decoration. If that’s the case, prune away, as it tolerates pruning well. It requires little pruning, unless you want to control the height or spread. At maturity, it’s 3 to 5 feet tall, with a spread that is slightly larger than the height. You could even use it as a dramatic backdrop to your perennial garden. Iceberg Ally sageleaf willow is relatively small, so it will fit in urban yards and foundation plantings. The silver is apparent from the moment leaves emerge in spring through autumn, when they turn yellow (unfortunately not a spectacular yellow) and then eventually fall off. As you can see in the photo, the leaf is longer than it is wide. The very textural foliage feels hairy and soft, and has a lovely silvery hue. Hardy to USDA Zone 2, this shrub will work for all northern gardeners. ![]() This little gem of a shrub was discovered at the Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador Botanical Garden in Canada. That has all changed with the recent introduction of a native sageleaf willow cultivar called Iceberg Alley ™. We have some great silver-leaved perennials, such as Artemisia ( ‘Silver Mound’ and ‘Valerie Finnis’) and Stachys (lambs ears), but not a woody shrub. Until recently, we’ve not had shrubs with silver foliage. Whether it is the reds or purples of ninebark, the chartreuse of spirea or sumac, or a great variegated dogwood, foliage can brighten up our gardens all season long. Many recent shrub introductions have offered northern gardeners colorful foliage to accent their gardens.
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