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Common Name: Weeping Willow

General Information

Salix babylonica is a Deciduous Tree up to 12.00 metres tall.
It has edible, medicinal and miscellaneous uses.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

The origin of this species is obscure.

Habitat

Not known in a truly wild situation.

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	12.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in most soils, including wet, ill-drained or intermittently flooded soils[, ], but prefers a damp, heavy soil in a sunny position[]. Rarely thrives on chalk[].
This species rarely thrives in Britain[], it is very subject to canker and has been largely replaced in cultivation by S. 'Chrysocoma'[].
The root system is rather aggressive and can cause problems with drains[].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[]. Although the flowers are produced in catkins early in the year, they are pollinated by bees and other insects rather than by the wind[].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[].
A dioecious species - both male and female forms must be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

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[].

Young shoots and flower buds - cooked[, , ]. Not very palatable[].

Older leaves are used to adulterate tea[].

A source of a manna-like substance[].

Medicinal

The leaves and bark are antirheumatic, astringent and tonic[, ].

A decoction of the leaves is used in the treatment of abscesses, carbuncle, fever, rheumatism, skin diseases, ulcers etc[].

An infusion of the bark has been used to treat diarrhoea and fevers[]. The bark can be used as a poultice[].
The stem bark is used in the treatment of skin eruptions due to parasites[].
The root bark is used in a bath for the treatment of parasitic skin diseases[].

A gum from the stems is used in the treatment of foul sores[].

The down of the seeds is used in the treatment of fevers, haemorrhages, jaundice, rheumatism etc[].

The fresh bark of all members of this genus contains salicin[], which probably decomposes into salicylic acid (closely related to aspirin) in the human body[]. This is used as an anodyne and febrifuge[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The extensive root system makes this species useful for binding soils[, ].
The plant is traditionally grown in living fences in the northwestern Himalayas, where it helps to exclude livestock and other animals; mark out land boundaries; whilst also providing a range of medicinal and other uses[].

Other Uses

The stems are very flexible and are used in basket making[, ]. 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.

A decoction or infusion of the bark has been used as a wash to make the hair grow[].

The wood is used for fuel[].

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, late autumn to late winter 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, early summer to August in a frame. Very easy.