Practical
Plants

Salix alba

White Willow

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

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Salix
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
25 m
Spread
10 m
Fertility
Self sterile, Bees
Flower type
dioecious
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Inner bark - raw or cooked. It can be dried, ground into a powder and added to cereal flour then used in making bread etc[15]. A very bitter flavour, especially when fresh[15][4], it is used as a famine food when all else fails[10]. Leaves and young shoots - raw or cooked[15][11]. Not very palatable[10]. They are used only in times of scarcity[2]. The leaves can be used as a tea substitute[26].

Plant part
Inner bark
Plant part
Leaves
Product or use
Tea

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Justly famous as the original source of salicylic acid (the precursor of aspirin), white willow and several closely related species have been used for thousands of years to relieve joint pain and manage fevers[22]. The bark is anodyne, anti-inflammatory, antiperiodic, antiseptic, astringent, diaphoretic, diuretic, febrifuge, hypnotic, sedative and tonic[24][27][29][17][8]. It has been used internally in the treatment of dyspepsia connected with debility of the digestive organs[24], rheumatism, arthritis, gout, inflammatory stages of auto-immune diseases, feverish illnesses, neuralgia and headache[20]. Its tonic and astringent properties render it useful in convalescence from acute diseases, in treating worms, chronic dysentery and diarrhoea[24]. The fresh bark is very bitter and astringent[19]. It contains salicin, which probably decomposes into salicylic acid (closely related to aspirin) in the human body[18]. This is used as an anodyne and febrifuge[18]. The bark is harvested in the spring or early autumn from 3 - 6 year old branches and is dried for later use[27][29]. The leaves are used internally in the treatment of minor feverish illnesses and colic[20]. An infusion of the leaves has a calming effect and is helpful in the treatment of nervous insomnia[27]. When added to the bath water, the infusion is of real benefit in relieving widespread rheumatism[27]. The leaves can be harvested throughout the growing season and are used fresh or dried[20].

Product or use
Anodyne
Product or use
Antiinflammatory
Product or use
Antiperiodic
Product or use
Antiseptic
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Hypnotic
Product or use
Sedative
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The young stems are very flexible and are used in basket making[6][25][26]. 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 bark can be used for tying plants[26]. A fibre obtained from the stems is used in making paper[14]. The stems are harvested in spring or summer, the leaves are removed and the stems steamed until the fibres can be stripped. The fibres are cooked for 2 hours with lye and then beaten with mallets or put through a blender. The paper is red/brown in colour[14]. A fast growing tree and tolerant of maritime exposure, it can be grown as a shelterbelt[28]. 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]. Wood - elastic, soft, easy to split, does not splinter. Used for construction, turnery, poles, tool handles etc[3][25][26]. The wood is also used to make charcoal[3], which has medicinal uses[27].

Product or use
Basketry
Product or use
Charcoal
Product or use
Paper
Product or use
String
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, from Norway south and east to N. Africa, Siberia, Himalayas, Palestine.
Habitat
By streams and rivers, marshes, woods and wet fens on richer soils[9].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
high
Hardiness
Zone 2+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral
Tolerances
high wind, maritime exposure
Wind
Yes
Maritime
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - must be surface sown as soon as it is ripe in late spring. It has a very short viability, perhaps as little as a few days. 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. Branches of older wood as long as 2.5 metres can be used[1]. Very easy. Plant into their permanent positions in the autumn. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, June to August in a frame. Very easy.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A very easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils, including wet, ill-drained or intermittently flooded soils[1], but prefers a damp, heavy soil in a sunny position[16]. Rarely thrives on chalk[16] and dislikes poor thin soils[13]. Very tolerant of maritime exposure and atmospheric pollution[28][13]. Trees respond well to coppicing or pollarding[13]. Best planted into its permanent position as soon as possible, trees respond badly to transplanting unless they are moved regularly. The root system is rather aggressive and can cause problems with drains[16]. A very important food plant for the caterpillars of many species of butterflies[23] and a good bee plant, providing an early source of nectar and pollen[3]. A very good wildlife habitat, more than 200 species of insects are associated with this tree[21]. There are many sub-species and cultivars in this species[12]. S. alba caerulea is the cricket bat willow, cultivated for its wood[3][7]. S. alba vitellina. (L.)Stokes. has been cultivated for its very tough stems that are used as tie rods in basket making[5][7]. The cultivar 'Cardinal' is also grown for its use in basket making[7]. This species is used commercially in papermaking[14]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus, especially S. fragilis, to which it is closely related[3]. Trees cast a relatively light shade. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  4. Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain.

    ↩

  5. ? Encyclopaedia Britannica. 15th edition.

    ↩

  6. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩

  7. Warren-Wren. S. C. Willows. David and Charles 1972-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  8. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

    ↩

  9. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  10. Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.

    ↩1↩2

  11. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  12. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩

  13. Beckett. G. and K. Planting Native Trees and Shrubs. Jarrold 1979-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  14. Bell. L. A. Plant Fibres for Papermaking. Liliaceae Press 1988-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  15. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩1↩2↩3

  16. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  17. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩

  18. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩1↩2

  19. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩

  20. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3

  21. Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden.

    ↩

  22. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩

  23. Carter D. Butterflies and Moths in Britain and Europe. Pan 1982-00-00 ISBN 0-330-26642-x

    ↩

  24. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  25. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  26. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  27. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  28. Rosewarne experimental horticultural station. Shelter Trees and Hedges. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 1984-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  29. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2

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