Salix acutifolia aka Caspic Willow

Salix acutifolia is a deciduous willow in the Salicaceae family. Common names include sharp-leaved willow and Siberian violet willow. Kew places its native range across northern and eastern Europe to Kazakhstan. It grows in temperate regions and is not native to Britain. Sources describe it as either a shrub or tree. Plants For A Future gives a height of 33 feet [10 metres].

The plant has an upright shape and long, narrow, pointed leaves. Young twigs have a deep red colour. Older stems develop a pale, waxy coat that looks white. The leaves turn bright yellow in autumn before they fall. These changes give the plant interest beyond its spring flowers. Its flexible stems also have a practical use in basket work.

Silvery white female catkins open before the leaves in early spring. Chicago Botanic Garden records flowering from March through April. The catkins reach about 0.16 feet [0.05 metres] long. Male and female flowers grow on separate plants. Both sexes must grow nearby if seed is wanted. Bees and other insects pollinate the flowers, rather than wind. Seed ripens in late spring and loses viability within days. Sow fresh seed on the soil surface without delay.

Grow this willow in sun with damp soil. It accepts sand, loam, and clay, including heavy clay. Moist or wet ground suits it, even with poor drainage. It also tolerates flooding that comes and goes. Mildly acid to neutral soil suits it better than chalk. It withstands strong winds and exposure near the sea. Chicago Botanic Garden lists USDA hardiness zones 4–8. Plants For A Future also describes it as frost hardy.

Use it for a screen, hedge, or windbreak. Its broad root system helps hold sandy ground in place. Basket growers cut stems back each year for slender rods. A two-year cycle yields thicker poles for basket frames. Cuttings from mature or partly ripened wood root with ease. Plants For A Future gives it a low food-use rating. It lists inner bark, leaves, and shoots as edible parts. The bark serves as emergency food, not a choice crop. Cooked young shoots have little appeal as food. That source reports no known hazards, but gives no detailed safety assessment.