Dune Willow (Salix piperi)

At a glance

Lifecycle: Perennial (hardy)
Exposure: Full sun

Cultivation

Succeeds in most soils, including wet, ill-drained or intermittently flooded soils. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

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, November to February 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, June to August in a frame. Very easy.

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 - cooked or used as a flavouring.

Medicinal uses

The fresh bark of all members of this genus contains salicin.

Material uses

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. The bark is used extensively in basketry. The soft roots are used as a towel to rub down after bathing. A string is made from the bark.