To preserve the biological diversity of the regional floras, the Botanical Garden has a collection of arcto-montane willows: 68 taxa are represented by over 200 specimens of natural and artificially cultured origin. Many-year studies of the seasonal growth and development have revealed breeding peculiarities and cultivation techniques most suitable for such plants.

    The collection is unique and rich both in the number of specimens and in terms of their origin. Methods of green cutting of arctomontane willows have for the first time been used, and the best breeding terms revealed. Stable natural specimens have been selected. Three endemic species, namely, Salix pyrenaica Gouan. S. crataegifolia Bert. B S. uralicola I.Belyaeva, are of special importance for the conservation and reintroduction. Arcto-montane willows show promise in the landscaping design as structural elements in rockeries, in the green spaces of small architectural forms and urban gardening, and can also be used for soil reclamation purposes and as melliferous plants.