White willow
Salix alba
EmergentPlacenta
Fast biomass
A fast wetland biomass giant — pollard it hard for endless mulch where groundwater or stream edges keep the soil moist. Not for dry ground.
Tolerances & traits
- Strata
- Emergent
- Lifecycle
- Placenta
- 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
How to manage it
Fast wetland biomass and pollard tree; coppice or pollard on a 2–3 year cycle for mulch and basketry wood.
Watch out for
Very thirsty — unsuitable for dry sites. Aggressive water-seeking roots can invade drains, pipes and foundations; wood is brittle and drops limbs.
Design your line to see how your land fits White willow.
Start designing your line →Related species