White Willow (Salix alba)

White Willow (Salix alba)

Value For Wildlife

Our native Salix seem to be second only to the oaks in terms of dependent species, which include several small mammals. They are an important source of early pollen and nectar for bees in the critical period of early spring, and are a food source for the caterpillars of the Comma.

Uses

Together with Osier, which is definitely a non native shrub species, Salix alba is traditionally used for making baskets and hurdles. Willow pollards are a defining characteristic of traditional lowland river and wetland landscapes like the Somerset Levels, and their rapid regrowth has led to biomass experimentation - we include them in our trees for wood fuel collection. A white willow hybrid, Salix alba Caerulea, is used for making cricket bats.

Plants For Sale

Like all the native trees we sell, our Salix alba are grown in the UK from UK origin seed. We sell 2 year old 60/90cm plants, in multiples of 5.

Suppliers: RV Roger, British Hardwood Trees.

See our planting and size guide for details and tips on planting. These White Willow trees are all bare root, and are consequently available for delivery from November until March. During the lifting season there may be up to a month's delay between placing the order and dispatching, due to weather conditions or pressure of orders, which are dealt with in date sequence. Orders for White Willows placed between March and September are confirmed in October ready for dispatch from November.