It is an understory species of the shade garden, thriving under canopy trees both evergreen and deciduous. Its traditional use is beside streams and water features in Asian gardens where, like most willows, it is tolerant of perennial damp and seepage. The drooping form is considered a fluid accent for natural waterways. Cold hardiness makes these shrubs an ideal candidate for natural woodlands or combined with American natives with similar requirements for more varied early spring interest.