Basket Willow
General characteristics of a Basket Willow
The osier (Salix viminalis) or wicker is a plant in the willow family (Salicaceae). It is a tree native to Europe and Asia. The osier is a shrubby willow species that rarely grows into a tree. Catkins develop in early spring, and it's noticeable that some shrubs produce catkins with only staminate flowers (the male inflorescence), while others produce catkins with only pistillate flowers (the female inflorescence). It is therefore a dioecious species. Both the staminate and pistillate flowers produce catkins bright yellow. The twigs and leaves emerge from the buds later. The leaves are very long and narrow, have an inward-folding margin, and are dull gray-green on the underside and glossy dark green on top.
Because of its early flowering, the osier is a popular bee plant.
Characteristics
How to plant a Basket Willow
Usually supplied as self-rooting twigs of 1-3 m in length. Plant as deeply as possible, 40-60 cm into the soil, preferably until the soil is moist, ideally from mid-February to late March. There is less chance of success in November or December.
How to harvest a Basket Willow
Branches take root in the ground after pruning willows.
Caring for and pruning your Basket Willow
Pruning
Pruning a willow is a crucial step in promoting its growth and maintaining its shape. Generally, the best time to prune a willow is during late winter to early spring, when the tree is dormant. This is usually between January and March, depending on the specific climate zone.
Pruning a willow during this period minimizes the risk of disease and infection because the tree is less susceptible to stressors. Furthermore, it is easier to identify branches that need to be removed because the tree is defoliated. If you notice your willow is becoming overgrown, showing signs of disease, or simply needs a new shape, now is the ideal time to take action.
Pollarding
Pollarding a willow is a traditional pruning method used to rejuvenate the tree and extend its lifespan. The best time to pollard a willow is in late autumn or early winter, usually between November and December. During this period, the tree has shed its leaves and is in a dormant state.
Pollarding a willow involves cutting the branches back to the trunk, creating a gnarled, characteristic shape. This process stimulates the growth of new shoots and creates a denser, healthier structure. It's important to remember that not all willows are suitable for pollarding, so it's advisable to consult a professional landscaper before undertaking this step.
Where does a Basket Willow grow
Grows in sunny places with moist or wet, moderately nutrient-rich to very nutrient-rich soil (lowland peat and clay), such as in forest edges, willow groves, scrub on riverbanks, willow forest edges, wet roughs, river banks, stream banks and marshes.
General
| Origin |
Native
|
| Tree Type | Shrub |
Length and Age
| Length in about 10 years | 1 Up to 4 Meter |
| Reproductive Maturity in How Many Years | Up to year |
| Maximum Age | Up to year |
| Required Space | Up to m2 |
| Growth Rate |
Reproduction
| Tree is Self-Pollinating | No |
| Reproduction Method |
To cut (cutting is between 5 and 50 cm)
To be pollarded (the slit is approximately 2m)
Makes seedlings
|
| Reproduction rate |
|
Reproduction rate
| 1. Very low reproduction rate. The plant hardly spreads, has few seeds or vegetative spread (e.g., trees with heavy seeds). |
| 2. Low reproduction rate. Spread via limited seed production or specific conditions required |
| 3. Average reproduction rate. Regular spread, depending on wind, water, or animals, at a moderate speed (e.g., dandelion). |
| 4. High reproduction rate. Many seeds and multiple spread strategies (wind, birds, vegetative). Quickly colonizes open spaces |
| 5. Very high reproduction rate. Invasive species that spread explosively over large distances (e.g., Japanese knotweed). |
Pruning Period
| This Tree is Evergreen | No |
| Summer | June tot July |
| Winter | December tot March |
| Leaf Shapes | Elongated |
| Easy to prune | Yes |
Bark Characteristics Seedling (50-200cm)
| Colour |
Bud Characteristics Seedling (50-200cm)
| Colour | |
| Bud Position |
Spread out
|
| Bud Shape |
Fusiform
|
Other
| Root |
Heart root system
|
| Bloom |
Has catkins
|
| Wind sensitivity | Not sensitive to (sea) wind |
Diseases
| Sensitive to the Following Diseases |
Watermark disease (Willow)
|
Harvest/recognition in winter
Buds small, felty-hairy and contiguous, young branches green-yellow and flexible.
Light requirement of the Basket Willow
Suitable soil types for the Basket Willow
| Soil type | Suitability |
|---|---|
| light clay |
|
| heavy clay |
|
| sand |
|
| peatland |
|
| Loam |
|
| Moerig op zand |
|
| Lichte zavel |
|
| Zware zavel |
|
Humidity
Suitable acidity level for the Basket Willow
Nutritional needs of the Basket Willow
| 1. | Very nutrient-poor soil |
| 2. | Very nutrient-poor to nutrient-poor soil |
| 3. | Nutrient-poor soil |
| 4. | Nutrient-poor to moderately nutrient-rich soil |
| 5. | Moderately nutrient-rich soil |
| 6. | Moderately nutrient-rich to nutrient-rich soil |
| 7. | Nutrient-rich soil |
| 8. | Extremely nutrient-rich soil |
| 9. | Very extremely nutrient-rich soil |
Humidity
| 1. | Extremely dry soils |
| 2. | Extremely dry to dry soils |
| 3. | Dry soils |
| 4. | Dry to dry/moist soils |
| 5. | Dry/moist soils |
| 6. | Dry/moist to moist soils |
| 7. | Moist soils |
| 8. | Moist to wet soils |
| 9. | Wet soils |
To be applied in landscapes
| Landscape | Suitability |
|---|---|
| Agroforestry |
|
| Hedge |
|
| Hedge |
|
| Forest |
|
| Feeding hedge |
|
| Back yard |
|
| Small back yard |
|
| Solitary |
|
| Wood wall |
|
Cultural-historical value
Insects
| How many insects typically live on this tree/plant? | 450 |
| Which insect groups live on this tree/plant? |
Bees
Butterflies
Beetles
Bumblebees
|
| Are there insects dependent on this species? | No |
| Which insect species are dependent on this tree/plant? |
Birds
| Average number of birds per tree/plant? | |
| Which bird groups live on this tree/plant? |
|
Mammals
| Average number of mammals per tree/plant? | |
| Which mammal groups live on this tree/plant? |
|
| Are there mammals dependent on this species? | No |
| Which mammal species are dependent on this tree/plant? |
Bloom Period
| Summer | March Up to April |
Tree Species
| Tree species that this tree prefers to grow with |
|
Suitable for mammals?
| Mammal | Suitability |
|---|---|
| Beavers |
|
| Badgers |
|
| Squirrel |
|
| Ferret |
|
| Goat |
|
| Herbivorous rodents |
|
| Deer |
|
| Dog |
|
| Cat |
|
| Chicken |
|
| Cow |
|
| Human |
|
| Mouse |
|
| Horse |
|
| Roe deer |
|
| Sheep |
|
| Pig |
|
| Foxes |
|
| Wild boar |
|
Explanation
Explanation
Edibility
- Toxic: This tree or shrub is toxic to mammals and absolutely unsuitable for consumption.
- Very unsuitable: This tree or shrub is unsuitable for consumption by mammals and can be harmful.
- Unsuitable: This tree or shrub is generally unsuitable for consumption by mammals and can have adverse effects.
- Moderately suitable: This tree or shrub is moderately suitable as food for mammals, possibly with certain risks or limitations.
- Suitable: This tree or shrub is generally suitable as food for mammals, with little to no risks.
- Very suitable: This tree or shrub is very suitable as food for mammals, safe, and of high nutritional value.
Trunk Height
Average Trunk Height (hg) of the basal area median tree
Information not available
Trunk Diameter
(dg) (1.30m) of the basal area median tree.
Information not available
Aboveground Biomass
in whole kgInformation not available
Belowground Biomass
in whole kgInformation not available
Substance Binder
| Which substances can be bound or absorbed? |
CO2
Particulate matter
|
Carbon Attraction (kf)
| (dg) (1.30m) of the basal area median tree | Deciduous Trees (Kf = 0,48) |
Warming Resistance
| This tree is well resistant to the warming (plus 3 degrees) of our climate and fits into the future of our climate (heat and drought resistant). | Yes |
CO2
| 0. | not filled in |
| 1. | no storage |
| 2. | low storage |
| 3. | moderate storage |
| 4. | high storage |
| 5. | very high storage |
Fine Dust
| 0. | not filled in |
| 1. | no capture capacity |
| 2. | low capture capacity |
| 3. | moderate capture capacity |
| 4. | high capture capacity |
| 5. | very high capture capacity |
This is what an adult tree Basket Willow looks like
This is what a Basket Willow in bloom looks like
This is what the bud of a Basket Willow looks like
This is what the leaf of a Basket Willow looks like
