Salix purpurea 8-10'. Useful for willow basketry when annually coppiced. Produces long non-branching purplish-red rods that appear dark grey with purple-red in a finished basket. Z4.
Salix gracilistyla ‘Melanostachys’ 6-10' x same. Very attractive fast-growing plant with deep purple-black male catkins in early spring. Stems turn rich purple-black in winter. Z4.
Salix purpurea ‘Nana’ 3-5' x 3-6'. Medium-sized spreading shrub with small narrow blue leaves and delicate thin long stems. Excellent bank or hedge plant. Attractive ornamental. Z3.
Salix × pendulina f. erythroflexuosa Up to 30' tall × 15-30' wide. Ornamental squiggly branches used for floral design, wreaths and funky living fences. Gorgeous auburn color. Z4.
Salix × pendulina f. erythroflexuosa Up to 30' tall × 15-30' wide. Ornamental squiggly branches used for floral design, wreaths and funky living fences. Yellowy-green bark. Z4.
Salix × pendulina f. erythroflexuosa Up to 30' tall × 15-30' wide. Ornamental squiggly branches used for floral design, wreaths and funky living fences. The most curly of the three. Z4.
Salix pendulina f. salamonii ‘Chrysocoma’ 50x50'. The classic weeping willow. Very large majestic graceful wide-spreading tree with golden drooping branches. Attracts loads of pollinators. Z3.
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Willows Salix spp.
The genus Salix comprises hundreds of different species of plants most commonly called willows but sometimes called Osier or Sallow. Willows grow all over the world. Some, like the weeping willow, are towering specimens. Others are short scrubby bushes; willows growing in the arctic can be 100 years old but only 2' tall! Uses include ornamental landscaping, shade, basketmaking, erosion control, timber, fuel and medicine. All parts, especially the bark, contain salicin, used for relief of pain and fever for hundreds, or even thousands, of years. Aspirin is a synthetic analog of salicin. Willows feed local wildlife, insects and birds. We plant them near the orchard to provide early season forage for our native pollinators. All prefer sun and loamy wet soils, but are adaptable, easily transplanted and fast growing.
