Practical
Plants

Salix pentandra

Bay 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
10 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 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[5]. Young shoots - cooked. Not very palatable[5].

Plant part
Inner bark
Plant part
Leaves

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[8], which probably decomposes into salicylic acid (closely related to aspirin) in the human body[7]. This is used as an anodyne and febrifuge[8]. 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[9]. The bark is removed during the summer and dried for later use[9]. The leaves are used internally in the treatment of minor feverish illnesses and colic[9]. The leaves can be harvested throughout the growing season and are used fresh or dried[9].

Product or use
Anodyne
Product or use
Febrifuge

Material uses

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

The stems are very flexible and are used in basket making[3]. 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 dried leaves have a pleasant aromatic aroma and can be used in pot-pourri[10].

Product or use
Basketry
Product or use
Pot-pourri

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy, Secondary canopy

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, from Norway south and east to the Pyrenees, Siberia, Caucasus, W. Asia.
Habitat
Stream-sides, marshes, fens and wet woods, ascending to 450 metres[4]. Native in N. Britain, planted elsewhere[4].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
high
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral
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][2], but prefers a damp, heavy soil in a sunny position[6]. Rarely thrives on chalk[6]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[6]. Although the flowers are produced in catkins early in the year, they are pollinated by bees and other insects rather than by the wind[2]. A very ornamental plant[1]. Best planted into its permanent position when young[2]. The root system is rather aggressive and can cause problems with drains[6]. The dried or bruised leaves have a sweet aromatic fragrance[10]. The scent resembles oil of wintergreen and is due to the presence of salicyl aldehyde[10]. Cultivated for its use in basket making, there are several named varieties[3]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[6]. 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. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  10. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩1↩2↩3

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