Purple Willow

Read about Purple Willow in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Salix purpurea, Linn. (S. Forbyana, Smith. Vetrix purpurea, Rafin.). Purple Osier. Fig. 3526. A shrub or small tree, spreading at base, with long, flexible branches: lvs. oblanceolate, serrulate, glabrous, veiny, 3-6 in. long, often appearing opposite: aments sessile, slender; pistillate recurved; scales purple; stamen 1: caps. small, ovate. Eu.—Planted as an ornamental shrub and escaped in many places. Also grown as a basket-willow. Var. pendula, Dipp. (S. nigra pendula, Hort. S. Americana pendula, Hort.). Branches pendent. Gng. 4:243. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

? Purple Willow secure
Purple Willow illustration
Plant Info
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Malpighiales Family: Salicaceae Genus: Salix Species: S. purpurea
Binomial name
Salix purpurea L.

The Purple Willow or Purple Osier (Salix purpurea) is a species of willow native to most of Europe and western Asia. It is a shrub to 1-2 m tall. The leaves are 2-8 cm long and 1-2 cm wide, and, unusually for a willow, often arranged in opposite pairs rather than alternate. The flowers are small catkins, produced in early spring; they are often purple in colour, whence the name of the species (other willows mostly have whitish, yellow or green catkins).

This willow species is often used in basketry.