Arctic blue willow is a deciduous shrub with a rounded habit, growing about 8 to 10 feet tall and wide. It has long, slender, supple branches that move with the breeze but that still seem to hold under the weight of the little migrating birds that perch on it. Its leaves are narrow and lance-like, and of a grey green to blue-green color. Fall color is yellow. 'Nana' is a commonly available cultivar, growing about 3 to 4 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide. Not drought tolerant, but useful for those low, moist spots in the yard where nothing else will grow; a nice hedge.
Grow in well drained to wet soils in full sun to light shade. Tolerates heavy clay soils, and does so surviving on less water than it typically desires. Grow at the edges of lawns or in low spots that seem to collect water. It doesn't require pruning, though the long, slender branches are useful for basket and other weaving projects. If desiring to harvest the wood for weaving or fence-making, prune to renovate in late winter to early spring, before new growth emerges; see Guides.