Salix gracilistyla 'Mt. Aso' is grown for its standout, rosy-pink catkins on bare stems in late winter into early spring. You can cut branches for indoor arrangements, or leave them on the plant to enjoy seasonal color and early interest in the garden.
Give it full sun for the best stem and catkin display. Plant it where the soil stays evenly moist; willows are happiest with steady moisture and can be a good fit near low spots, rain-garden edges, or where irrigation is reliable. Expect a fast-growing, multi-stem shrub that can reach about 8-10 feet tall and 8-10 feet wide if allowed to mature without size control.
Pruning is the key to keeping this willow looking its best. For strong new shoots and plenty of flowering stems for cutting, you can coppice (cut back hard) on a regular schedule, or selectively remove older stems at the base to renew the plant. Because willows can develop wide, searching roots in favorable conditions, give it room and avoid planting right next to septic systems, water lines, or delicate hardscapes.
In spring and summer, it fills in with narrow green leaves, then drops foliage for winter. The bare-season structure and budded stems help carry the garden through the quiet months, and the plant can contribute to early-season pollinator value when catkins are present.