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Salix repens
  • Creeping Willow

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

248px
Niche
  • Soil surface
    Soil surface
    There are no details available for this niche.
Functions
  • Ground cover
    Ground cover
    There are no details available for this function.
  • Earth stabiliser
    Earth stabiliser
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    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
  • 5
    Zone 5
    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
Salix repens has 0 edible uses listed
Salix repens has 0 material uses listed
Salix repens has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

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[1]. Young shoots - raw or cooked. They are not very palatable[1].

Inner bark

Unknown use

Leaves

Unknown use

Material uses

An admirable ground cover plant[2]. The plants extensive root system also makes it a good soil stabilizer on sand dunes[3]. The sub-species S. repens argentea is the form best used for this[4]. The plant is also used for stabilizing old waste tips and slag heaps[5]. The bark contains about 10% tannin[6].

Unknown part

Oil
Tannin

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

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[8]. This is used as an anodyne and febrifuge[7].

Unknown part

Anodyne
Febrifuge

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Soil surface

Ecological Functions

Ground cover


Earth stabiliser

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

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.

Division of suckers[4].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Salix repens. 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[9][4], but prefers a damp, heavy soil in a sunny position[3]. Rarely thrives on chalk[3].

A polymorphic plant, there are many sub-species and cultivars[4][3]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[3]. Although the flowers are produced in catkins early in the year, they are pollinated by bees and other insects rather than by the wind[4]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[3].

Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Salix repens. 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 repens.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Salix repens
Genus
Salix
Family
Salicaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1]
Medicinal uses
[7][8]
Material uses & Functions
[2][3][4][5][6]
Botanic
[4][3]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Ground cover, Earth stabiliser
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
5
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    Soil surface
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    deciduous
    Herbaceous or Woody
    woody
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    1 x 1.5 meters
    Fertility
    self sterile
    Pollinators
    Bees
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    dioecious

    "image:Salix repens ssp dunensis detail.jpeg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Salix repens ssp dunensis detail.jpeg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Salix repens ssp dunensis detail.jpeg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Salix repens ssp dunensis detail.jpeg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Salix repens ssp dunensis detail.jpeg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Salix repens ssp dunensis detail.jpeg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Salix repens ssp dunensis detail.jpeg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Salix repens ssp dunensis detail.jpeg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Salix repens ssp dunensis detail.jpeg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Salix repens ssp dunensis detail.jpeg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Salix repens ssp dunensis detail.jpeg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Salix repens ssp dunensis detail.jpeg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Salix repens ssp dunensis detail.jpeg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Salix repens ssp dunensis detail.jpeg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Salix repens ssp dunensis detail.jpeg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.2 Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest. ()
    2. ? 2.02.1 Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray ISBN 0-7195-5043-2 (1992-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.23.33.43.53.63.7 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.24.34.44.54.6 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.1 Newsholme. C. Willows - The Genus Salix. Batsford ISBN 0713468815 (1992-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.1 Rottsieper. E.H.W. Vegetable Tannins The Forestal Land, Timber and Railways Co. Ltd. (1946-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.17.2 Lauriault. J. Identification Guide to the Trees of Canada Fitzhenry and Whiteside, Ontario. ISBN 0889025649 (1989-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.1 Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books ISBN 0-449-90589-6 (1980-00-00)
    9. ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)

    "image:Salix repens ssp dunensis detail.jpeg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Salix_repens&oldid=80582"
    Facts about "Salix repens"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familySalicaceae +
    Belongs to genusSalix +
    Functions asGround cover + and Earth stabiliser +
    Has binomial nameSalix repens +
    Has common nameCreeping Willow +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partInner bark + and Leaves +
    Has edible useUnknown use +
    Has fertility typeSelf sterile + and Bees +
    Has flowers of typeDioecious +
    Has hardiness zone5 +
    Has imageSalix repens ssp dunensis detail.jpeg +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useOil + and Tannin +
    Has mature height1 +
    Has mature width1.5 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAnodyne + and Febrifuge +
    Has primary imageSalix repens ssp dunensis detail.jpeg +
    Has search namesalix repens + and creeping willow +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil texture preferenceSandy +, Loamy +, Clay + and Heavy clay +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
    Has taxonomy nameSalix repens +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Inhabits ecosystem nicheSoil surface +
    Is deciduous or evergreenDeciduous +
    Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF material use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF toxicity notes migratedYes +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
    Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Salix repens +, Salix repens +, Salix repens +, Salix repens +, Salix repens + and Salix repens +