Common osier

Profile

Family

Salicaceae

Habit

Tree

Height

6.5 m

Spread

4 m

Growth

very fast

Lifespan

600 years

First yield

after 5 years

Hardiness

zone 4–8

Shade tolerance

light shade

Soil

Sand, Silt, Loam, Clay

Soil moisture

semi-dry – near water

pH

4.5 – 7

Synonyms

Kopfweide

Flowering & harvest

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible: The inner bark is edible raw or cooked, and can also be dried, ground into powder, and used as flour for baking bread. It has a bitter taste and is mainly consumed as a last resort food option. Young shoots, while edible when cooked, are not very flavorful.

Medicinal: Antirheumatic and antipyretic properties are found in the fresh bark of all members of this genus due to the presence of salicin, which converts to salicylic acid in the human body. Salicylic acid is utilized for pain relief and reducing fever.

Other uses: The plant's stems are highly flexible and utilized in basket making, usually pruned once a year for this purpose. Alternatively, pruning every two years is sufficient when thicker poles are required for support. Each year, approximately 12 tons per hectare can be harvested, with 40% classified as Class 1. Its bark has a tannin content of around 10%. To combat soil erosion, the plant is commonly grown along riverbanks and lakeshores.

Growing

Thrives in various soil types, such as moist, poorly drained, or occasionally flooded soils, but prefers moist, heavy soil in a sunny spot. Dislikes heavy shade and dry soils, and rarely does well on limestone. Tolerant of air pollution, this fast-growing tree is highly wind-resistant. Extensively grown for basket making, with numerous named cultivars available. Trees are typically pruned annually for this purpose, as they do not respond favorably to pollarding. For basket making, they should be pruned back almost to ground level to stimulate the growth of long, flexible shoots. Under optimal conditions, plants can achieve over 4 meters of new growth per year. An essential food source for caterpillars of various butterfly species and an early pollen source for bees. These plants support a diverse insect population. It is advisable to plant them in their permanent location promptly, as their root system can be invasive and lead to drainage issues. Avoid planting within 10 meters of buildings. Plants in this genus are highly susceptible to the honey fungus. Dioecious, requiring both male and female plants for seed production.

Propagation

Seeds should be sown on the surface right after they mature in late spring as they have a short shelf life, typically only a few days. Cuttings from mature wood of the current year can be planted from November to February in a sheltered outdoor bed or directly in their final spot, covered with a weed-suppressing mulch. It is straightforward. Plant them in their final spot in autumn. Cuttings from semi-mature wood can be planted in a frame from June to August, which is also simple.

Notable

Special features: wind+pollutant+flood tolerant; wicker fence; threshold between land/fire and water; 4 meters of growth per year possible; root system can attack pipes and walls → keep sufficient distance; better to topple above ground than to prune; rich in insect life; contains a root growth hormone → easy to take cuttings.

Origin & habitat

Europe spans from Scandinavia in the north to France in the west and from Central Europe to Japan in the east.

Typically found in mountainous terrain on nutrient-rich soils, as well as on gravelly and sandy nutrient-poor soils. It thrives along streams and marshes, roadsides, railway embankments, and forest edges.

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