BASKET WILLOW – Salix viminalis: [ 8 ]
Grows to 7m with greyish-brown bark and yellow-green twigs. Leaves are 20cm long and 1cm wide, glossy and dark green. Underneath they’re covered in felt-like grey hairs. Male, yellow and female, green catkins develop on different plants and arrive in late winter before the leaves. After pollination the female catkins split to release tiny seeds. Moth caterpillars feed on the leaves and the catkins provide pollen to bees and other insects. This willow is great for basket weaving, screens and sculptures. It is also able to absorb heavy metals so is often used to help clean up industrial sites.
Grows to 7m with greyish-brown bark and yellow-green twigs. Leaves are 20cm long and 1cm wide, glossy and dark green. Underneath they’re covered in felt-like grey hairs. Male, yellow and female, green catkins develop on different plants and arrive in late winter before the leaves. After pollination the female catkins split to release tiny seeds. Moth caterpillars feed on the leaves and the catkins provide pollen to bees and other insects. This willow is great for basket weaving, screens and sculptures. It is also able to absorb heavy metals so is often used to help clean up industrial sites.
