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Salix 'Bowles hybrid'

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Salix genus in the family Salicaceae.

Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementshigh
    High
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Heavy clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • ?
    Unknown
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Inner bark - cooked. It is usually harvested in the winter and spring, and can be dried, ground into a powder and added to flour, for use in making bread etc. A famine food, only used when all else fails[1]. Young shoots - cooked. They are not very palatable[1].
There are no edible uses listed for Salix 'Bowles hybrid'.

Material uses

The stems are very flexible and are used in basket making[2]. The plant is usually coppiced annually when grown for basket making, though it is possible to coppice it every two years if thick poles are required as uprights.

The plants are very fast growing, capable of reaching a height of 3 metres in their first year from cuttings. They are also very tolerant of maritime exposure and make an excellent shelterbelt, though the plants are rather bare in winter and do not offer so much wind protection at this time[K]. In order to make an effective shelter, it is best to encourage plenty of side branches by cutting the plants back almost to ground level after their first year's growth[K]. Also cutting them back to about 1 metre tall after their second year of growth will provide an even better framework of branches[K].

The plant's rapid growth and wind tolerance make it a very good pioneer species to use in establishing woodland conditions in difficult sites. Spacing cuttings about every 5 metres will soon provide shelter and a suitable environment for planting out woodland trees that are not so wind tolerant. The main disadvantage in using this species is that the roots are far-ranging and the plant is quite greedy, so it will not as much effect as species such as the alders (Alnus species) in enriching the soil and thus feeding the woodland plants[K]. One strong advantage is that the plant is a male clone and so will not spread itself about where it is not wanted[K].
There are no material uses listed for Salix 'Bowles hybrid'.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The fresh bark of all members of this genus contains salicin[3], which probably decomposes into salicylic acid (closely related to aspirin) in the human body[4]. This is used as an anodyne and febrifuge[3].
There are no medicinal uses listed for Salix 'Bowles hybrid'.

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - this hybrid is a male cultivar, it does not produce seed.

Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, November to February in a sheltered outdoor bed or planted straight into their permanent position and given a good weed-suppressing mulch. Very easy. Plant into their permanent positions in the autumn. Branches of older wood up to 2.5m long can be used.

Cuttings of half-ripe wood, June to August in a frame. Very easy.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Salix 'Bowles hybrid'. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Succeeds in most soils, including wet, ill-drained or intermittently flooded soils[5], but prefers a damp, heavy soil in a sunny position[6]. Rarely thrives on chalk[6].

A very fast growing plant, capable of making new shoots up to 5 metres long in one growing season, especially if the plants are coppiced[K]. Trees respond badly to transplanting unless they are moved regularly. The root system is rather aggressive and can cause problems with drains and the foundations of buildings[6]. This is especially prevalent on clay soils. It is best not to plant trees within 12 metres of buildings. Although the plant produces catkins and is wind pollinated, the flowers are also a good source of nectar. This makes them a very important food plant for many species of caterpillars and a good bee plant, providing an early source of nectar and pollen. Dioecious, but only the male form is known.

Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[6].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Salix 'Bowles hybrid'. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Salix 'Bowles hybrid'.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Salix 'Bowles hybrid'
Genus
Salix
Family
Salicaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1]
Medicinal uses
[3][4]
Material uses & Functions
[2]
Botanic
[7]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
?
Heat Zone
?
Water
high
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
  • Strong wind
  • Maritime exposure
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
None listed.
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
Life
Deciduous or Evergreen
deciduous
Herbaceous or Woody
woody
Life Cycle
perennial
Growth Rate
vigorous
Mature Size
5 x meters
Fertility
self sterile
Pollinators
Bees
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type
dioecious












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