Basket willow

Synonyms: Salix linearis Turcz., Salix gmelinii Pall., iva prutovidnaya (rod willow), Gmelin's willow (iva Gmelina), vine willow (iva loznaya), true rod-like willow (iva nastoyashchaya prutovidnaya), Russian willow (iva russkaya), late willow (iva pozdnyaya), shiny willow (iva blestyashchaya), belotal, verboloz, loza, kuzovitsa, Salix pseudolinearis Nasarow p.p., Salix rossica Nasarow p.p., Salix rufescens (Turcz.) Nasarow, Salix semiviminalis E.L. Wolf, Salix serotina Pall., Salix splendens (Turcz.) Nasarow, Salix stolonifera ssp. carbonicola V.V. Petrovsky, Salix strobilacea (E.L. Wolf) Nasarow, Salix veriviminalis Nasarow, Salix viminalis ssp. veriviminalis (Nasarow) Hyl., Salix viminalis var. semiviminalis (E.L. Wolf) Poljak.

Basket willow (Salix viminalis L.) – a species of deciduous shrubs and trees of the genus Salix (family Salicaceae). Naturally distributed in the temperate regions of Eurasia. Grows along riverbanks, on periodically flooded islands from the forest-tundra to the desert-steppe zone; forms dense thickets on river shores. Does not ascend above the montane-forest belt.

It is a deciduous, branching shrub 5-6 m high, rarely a tree 8-10 m high. Branches thin, straight, long, appressed. Young shoots grayish-pubescent, more rarely almost glabrous, later becoming glabrous or sparsely hairy.

Buds 3-5 mm long, flattened, ovate-elongate, yellowish or reddish-brown, shortly and finely gray-hairy. Stipules long-acuminate, narrowly lanceolate in shape, more rarely lobed or falcate, gland-toothed, soon deciduous or absent.

Leaves of the apical shoots linear or narrowly lanceolate, 15-20 cm long, 0.3-4 cm wide, the greatest width located below the middle, with a broad or cuneate base, tapering to the apex, with revolute margin, acute, slightly undulate-sinuate or entire, more rarely clearly serrate. The upper surface of the blade ranges from dark green, almost glabrous or slightly pubescent to grayish-pubescent with glandular tubercles on the margins; the lower surface is densely covered with silky hairs, silvery- or satin-shining. Petioles silky, short or very short, 0.5-1.2 (0.1-0.4) cm long.

Blooms early, in late April – early May. Catkins nearly sessile or sessile. Staminate catkins 2-3 cm long, 1.5 cm in diameter, oblong-ovoid in shape; pistillate catkins usually erect, 3-4 cm long, up to 6 cm when fruiting, cylindrical in shape, densely flowered. Bracts elongated-ovoid or broadly rounded, acute or obtuse, light brown at the base or entirely, with a dark, often almost black tip. Stamens 2, with free thin glabrous filaments; anthers golden-yellow, slightly darkening after flowering. Ovary ovate or ovate-conical, on a very short stalk or sessile, densely silky-hairy; style 0.3-2.5 mm long; stigmas 1-2 mm long, pale, filiform, separate or entire; nectary posterior, single, linear-lanceolate, 0.8-1.5 mm long.

Fruits – an inflated silky capsule 4-5 mm long. Fruiting occurs in April–June.

Chromosome number. 2n=38

Hybrids:

• with Salix caprea L. – Salix × smithiana Willd.
• with Salix cinerea L. – Salix × holosericea Willd.
• with Salix dasyclados Wimm. – Salix × stipularis Sm.
• with Salix triandra L. – Salix × mollissima Ehrh.

Subspecies:

• veriviminalis (Nasarow) Hyl.
• var. semiviminalis (E.L. Wolf) Poljak.
• var. yezoensis C.K. Schneid.

Hardiness zone: 4a (-32)

Site/exposure: light-loving, moisture-loving, tolerates waterlogging and temporary flooding, can grow on waterlogged soil. Unpretentious and very hardy, tolerates urban conditions well.

Soil: requires waterlogged soil or abundant watering (especially for young plants during hot dry periods). Not demanding for fertility; grows on any cultivated soil, including sandy, marshy, low-fertility or stony soils. Does not like calcareous soils. Optimal pH= from 5.1 to 7.5 (8). Prefers deep loams or sandy loam soils, fairly loose.

Planting: Best planted in spring before bud break. When establishing a "willow bed" (osier plantation) it is recommended to work the soil in autumn to a depth of 30-80 cm, depending on its fertility and dryness. The top vegetative layer should be turned upside down. Recommended spacing between seedlings should be at least 0.6-2 m, depending on the variety. Planting depth – 40-70 cm. Transplanting is recommended up to 3-4 years. In heavy soils drainage of gravel or sand 20-30 cm thick is recommended.

Pruning: tolerates trimming and pruning well. Regular removal of dead shoots and shaping of the stem and crown is recommended. For creating living hedges annual cutting to the stump is necessary.

Care: practically requires no maintenance.

Propagation: by cuttings and seeds. Seeds lose viability after 2-3 days. Cuttings can be used (both summer and woody cuttings). Rooting is almost 100%. Can even be propagated by stakes driven into the ground, especially on flooded sites.

Pests: Cecidomya saliciperda, Cecidomya salicis, Tortrix (Helias) Chlorana, Agrotis vallugera, Bombyx Salicis, Curculio crux, Phratora vulgarissima, Phratora vitellinae, Galerucacapreae, Galerucina, Arvicola terrestris.

Diseases: affected by fungal diseases – fungi of the genera Melampsora, Rhytisma, Erysiphe.

Uses: used for stabilizing dikes and banks. From the rods the highest-quality basketry material is obtained; used to make fishing gear, hoops. Wood is light, soft and white, turning pink in water. Has an attractive habit, sheds leaves late. In landscape design used to create living hedges, as well as to arrange water bodies and clumps. A good early source of pollen and nectar.