Salix purpurea aka Basket Willow

Salix purpurea is a deciduous willow in the Salicaceae family. Its common names include purple osier and basket willow. Kew places its native range from Europe to the Caucasus, plus northwest Africa. It is native to Britain and Ireland. People introduced it to parts of Canada and the United States. It has since spread along some North American streams.

This fast-growing shrub forms a dense, rounded crown of thin branches. It can also grow as a small tree. Garden accounts describe heights of about 8–16 feet (2.4–5 metres). The RHS gives an upper height of 26 feet (8 metres). Its listed spread reaches 13 feet (4 metres). Young shoots arch outward and show purple tones. As they age, they turn pale gray or gray-brown. The bark is smooth. Narrow leaves have blue-green tops and paler undersides. Most leaves alternate, though some grow opposite near shoot tips. Small teeth edge the leaf tips. Fall leaves can turn purple-black, but offer little display.

Catkins appear on bare stems before the leaves unfold. The RHS places flowering in early spring. North Carolina State lists April and May. The catkins start with purple tones, then become gray-white. Male and female flowers grow on separate plants. Both sexes must be present for seed production. Female plants form small capsules that open to shed seeds. The fruit adds little to the garden display.

Give this willow full sun and deep, moist soil. It accepts clay, loam, sand, and a broad pH range. It dislikes thin soils over chalk. It also tolerates part shade, brief dry spells, and some flooding. Cool summers suit it better than strong heat and humidity. Sources place its USDA hardiness across zones 3–8. The RHS rates it H6 for British conditions. Cuttings provide a means of raising new plants. Late-winter pruning can shape growth and keep spreading stems in check.

Flexible twigs supply material for baskets. Plantings can screen spaces and help hold stream banks. The leaves feed viceroy butterfly larvae. The bark contains salicin, used for pain relief. The supplied species evidence does not establish edible uses. ASPCA lists it as non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Roots can produce suckers, and plants may be short-lived. Weak wood can crack under snow or ice. Aphids, scale, beetles, and caterpillars may attack it. Disease risks include rust, scab, canker, anthracnose, and honey fungus.