Osier willow
Salix viminalis
A workhorse coppice willow for wet zones — cut it hard and often for soft mulch and flexible wood where moisture is reliable.
Osier willow in a syntropic line
Osier willow belongs in the Medium layer as a Secondary biomass species. The productive heart — most of your yield lives here. Rough in-row spacing starts around 1 m in a syntropic row. Good line partners include Avocado, Black mulberry. As a Secondary species it carries mid-term yield and structure while climax trees slowly claim the canopy.
Tolerances and growing conditions
- Strata
- Medium
- Lifecycle
- Secondary
- Soil preference
- Clay, Loam
- Soil pH range
- 5.5 – 8
- Min. temperature
- -30°C
- Min. rainfall
- 600 mm/year
- Wind tolerance
- Medium
- Frost tolerance
- High
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Irrigation needed
- High
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Waterlogging tolerance
- High
- Origin
- Europe
- Native to Portugal
- No
How to manage it
Classic coppice willow for mulch, fodder and basketry; cut to stool annually or biennially on moist ground.
How to propagate
Push dormant hardwood whips into moist ground in winter — they root fast.
Guidance, not a guarantee — success varies by species and skill.
What to watch out for
Needs consistently moist soil to thrive; invasive, water-seeking roots can damage drains, pipes and pond liners near waterways.
Frequently asked questions about Osier willow
Is osier willow frost-hardy?
Yes for winter cold in many climates — generally hardy to around -30°C when dormant, with high frost tolerance in the catalog. Flowering crops can still lose a season to late frost, so site them carefully.
What soil does osier willow need?
It does best on clay, loam ground, at pH about 5.5–8.
How much water does osier willow need?
Plan for a rainfall floor around 600 mm/year, plus high irrigation once established.
Can osier willow handle wet or waterlogged soil?
Yes — osier willow has high waterlogging tolerance and copes with winter-wet ground.
What should I watch out for with osier willow?
Needs consistently moist soil to thrive; invasive, water-seeking roots can damage drains, pipes and pond liners near waterways.
Design your line to see how your land fits Osier willow.
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