Practical
Plants

Salix fragilis

Crack Willow

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

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Salix
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
15 m
Spread
15 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 then added to cereal flour for use in making bread etc. A very bitter flavour, it is a famine food that is only used when all else fails[6]. Young shoots - raw or cooked. They are not very palatable[6]. A saccharine exudation is obtained from the leaves and young branches[9][2]. Used as a food[7].

Plant part
Inner bark
Plant part
Leaves
Product or use
Sweetener

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.

The fresh bark of all members of this genus contains salicin[13], which probably decomposes into salicylic acid (closely related to aspirin) in the human body[11]. This is used as an anodyne, astringent and febrifuge[19][13]. The bark of this species is used interchangeably with S. alba. It is taken internally in the treatment of rheumatism, arthritis, gout, inflammatory stages of auto-immune diseases, diarrhoea, dysentery, feverish illnesses, neuralgia and headache[14]. A poultice of the bark has been applied to sores as a styptic and healing agent[15]. The bark is removed during the summer and dried for later use[14]. The leaves are used internally in the treatment of minor feverish illnesses and colic[14]. The leaves can be harvested throughout the growing season and are used fresh or dried[14].

Product or use
Anodyne
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Styptic

Material uses

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

Stems are very flexible and are used in basket making[17][18]. 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 contains around 10% tannin[12]. Wood - tough, withstands friction. Used for floors, bases of carts etc[3]. A good quality charcoal is obtained from the wood[18].

Product or use
Basketry
Product or use
Charcoal
Product or use
Tannin
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy, Secondary canopy

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, from Sweden south and east to Spain, Serbia and Iran.
Habitat
Streamsides, marshes, fens and wet woods[5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
high
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral
Tolerances
high wind
Wind
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. 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.

Succeeds in most soils, including wet, ill-drained or intermittently flooded soils,[1] but prefers a deep damp, heavy soil in a sunny position[3][10]. Rarely thrives on chalk[10]. Succeeds in an exposed position[8]. Closely allied to S. alba, with which it freely hybridizes[3], though it tolerates poorer soils than that species[8]. A very important food plant for the caterpillars of many butterfly species[16] and a good bee plant, providing an early source of nectar and pollen[3]. The cultivar 'Basfordiana' is used for basket making[4]. Best if planted into its permanent position as soon as possible. The root system is rather aggressive and can cause problems with drains[10]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[10]. Plants are very amenable to coppicing or pollarding and can be cut back annually if required[8]. 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

    ↩

  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

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

  7. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩

  12. Rottsieper. E.H.W. Vegetable Tannins The Forestal Land, Timber and Railways Co. Ltd. 1946-00-00

    ↩

  13. Lauriault. J. Identification Guide to the Trees of Canada Fitzhenry and Whiteside, Ontario. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0889025649

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  15. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

Edit this page