Practical
Plants

Salix scouleriana

Scouler's 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
10 m
Fertility
Self sterile, Bees
Flower type
dioecious
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

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.

A poultice of the inner cambium has been used in the treatment of serious cuts[9]. A poultice of the damp inner bark has been applied to the skin over a broken bone[9]. The shredded inner bark has been used as sanitary napkins to 'heal a woman's insides'[9]. A poultice of the bark and sap has been used in the treatment of bleeding wounds[9]. A decoction of the roots has been used in the treatment of dysentery[9]. A decoction of the branches has been taken by women for several months after giving birth in order to increase the blood flow[9]. The fresh bark of all members of this genus contains salicin[7], which probably decomposes into salicylic acid (closely related to aspirin) in the human body[6]. This is used as an anodyne and febrifuge[7].

Product or use
Anodyne
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Haemostatic
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Women's complaints

Material uses

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

The stems are very flexible and are used in basket making[4]. They have also been used to sew the bark on canoes and make hoops[7]. 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 roots have been used to make baskets[9]. The bark can be twisted into cord and used for making bags and clothes[9]. The branches and the bark can be twisted into a strong rope[9]. The bark has been used for sowing birch bark onto basket frames[9]. Wood - light, soft, close-grained[10]. It has no commercial value, but it is used locally for fuel, charcoal and tool handles[8].

Product or use
Basketry
Product or use
Fibre
Product or use
String
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Environment

Range
Western N. America - Alaska to California and New Mexico.
Habitat
Found on both moist lowland and dry upland areas, growing in a range of habitats from upland bogs and riversides to meadows, roadsides and cleared areas in forests, from sea level to 3000 metres[8].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
high
Hardiness
Zone 6+
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][3], but prefers a damp, heavy soil in a sunny position[5]. Rarely thrives on chalk[5]. A fast-growing tree in its early years, this species is one of the few willows to naturally develop a single trunk[8]. 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]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[5]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[5]. 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. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Li. H. L. Journal of the Arnold Arboretum. Volume 32. Arnold Arboretum. 1952-00-00

    ↩

  4. Newsholme. C. Willows - The Genus Salix. Batsford 1992-00-00 ISBN 0713468815

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  8. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10

  10. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

    ↩

Edit this page