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.


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Purple Willow
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Purple Willow illustration
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.

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