Salix nakamurana var. yezoalpina is a prostrate creeping willow native to the alpine slopes of Hokkaido, Japan, where it thrives in harsh mountain terrain that would challenge most plants. This botanical variety grows as a low, shrubby ground cover, typically reaching just 9 to 12 inches tall but spreading 12 to 72 inches wide, with stiff woody reddish-brown branches that crawl through crevices and over rocks like a living carpet. Hardy in zones 4 through 8, it produces showy catkins in March and April and tolerates conditions that defeat other plants, including wet soil, erosion-prone slopes, and even the presence of black walnut. Its combination of alpine hardiness, deer resistance, and low maintenance makes it a genuinely useful plant for gardeners working with difficult sites.
Partial Sun
Moderate
4-8
12in H x 72in W
—
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
This alpine native accomplishes something most ground covers cannot: it thrives in places other plants abandon. The reddish-brown branches stay visible even after leaf drop, creating winter interest, while the showy spring catkins appear before many other plants have fully leafed out. Native to mountain slopes where conditions are harsh and unforgiving, it brings that same toughness to gardens, handling wet soils, erosion control, and deer pressure with equal indifference. Its creeping habit and minimal vertical growth make it genuinely useful for colonizing difficult spaces without requiring years of pruning or babying.
This willow functions as a ground cover for alpine gardens, rock gardens, and difficult slopes where erosion control is needed. Its low, creeping growth and ability to stabilize wet soils make it well suited for rain gardens and naturalized plantings. It also works as a low hedge or edging plant, particularly in cool-climate gardens where its alpine heritage gives it a competitive advantage.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Prune back radiating branches as needed to maintain the desired form and encourage dense, ground-hugging growth. Since this willow naturally spreads horizontally rather than vertically, pruning focuses on controlling width and preventing overgrowth into adjacent planting areas rather than on shaping upright structure.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“This willow originates from the mountain slopes of Hokkaido, Japan, where it evolved to survive in alpine conditions far harsher than most ornamental plants encounter. As a botanical variety of Salix nakamurana, it represents a naturally occurring form adapted to high elevations and exposed terrain. The plant's journey from Japanese alpine habitat to Western gardens reflects the broader 20th-century plant exploration that brought Japanese alpine species into horticultural use, valued by gardeners seeking plants tough enough for difficult sites.”