Plant Details

Salix pentandra

Bay Willow, Laurel willow

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Common names

25 names · 20 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Bay Willow[1]
  • Laurel willow[1]
Other languages (19)
Dutch
  • Laurierwilg[1]
French
  • Saule laurier
  • Saule odorant[1]
  • Saule à cinq étamines[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • vrba pětimužná[1]
Danish
  • Femhannet pil[1]
Estonian
  • raudremmelgas[1]
Finnish
German
  • Lorbeer-Weide[1]
Hungarian
  • Babérfűz[1]
Italian
  • Salice odoroso[1]
Japanese
  • セイヨウテリハヤナギ[1]
Lithuanian
  • Virbinis gluosnis[1]
Norwegian
Polish
  • Wierzba laurowa[1]
  • Wierzba pięciopręcikowa[1]
Russian
  • Ива пятитычинковая[1]
Slovak
  • vŕba päťtyčinková[1]
Swedish
Ukrainian
  • Верба п'ятитичинкова[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Salix pentandra — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Laurel willow — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 168349; Salix pentandra.
  • bay willow — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 168349; Salix pentandra.
  • halava — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 168349; Salix pentandra.
  • Jolster — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 168349; Salix pentandra.
  • vrba pětimužná — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 168349; Salix pentandra.
  • Lorbeer-Weide — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 168349; Salix pentandra.
  • Femhannet pil — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 168349; Salix pentandra.
  • Laurierwilg — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 168349; Salix pentandra.
  • Saule à cinq étamines — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 168349; Salix pentandra.
  • Saule odorant — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 168349; Salix pentandra.
  • Ива пятитычинковая — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 168349; Salix pentandra.
  • Viitahalava — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 168349; Salix pentandra.
  • istervier — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 168349; Salix pentandra.
  • Virbinis gluosnis — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 168349; Salix pentandra.
  • セイヨウテリハヤナギ — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 168349; Salix pentandra.
  • 五蕊柳 — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 168349; Salix pentandra.
  • 五蕊柳 — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 168349; Salix pentandra.
  • Верба п'ятитичинкова — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 168349; Salix pentandra.
  • raudremmelgas — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 168349; Salix pentandra.
  • vŕba päťtyčinková — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 168349; Salix pentandra.
  • Wierzba pięciopręcikowa — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 168349; Salix pentandra.
  • Wierzba laurowa — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 168349; Salix pentandra.
  • Babérfűz — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 168349; Salix pentandra.
  • Salice odoroso — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 168349; Salix pentandra.

General information

Scientific name: Salix pentandra
Accepted name (Kew): Salix pentandra L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Botanical family: Salicaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Salix (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Bay Willow, Laurel willow
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Tree
Catalogue size class: Medium
Height: 10.00 m
Spread: 10.00 m
Growth rate: Slow
Foliage: Deciduous

Leaf retention described in the New England flora.

Sources [2]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 2-5
Soil moisture:
Moist, Wet
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Inner bark
Edibility rating:
(1)
Medicinal rating:
(3)
Functions:
Basketry, Pioneer species, Windbreak, Wood

Description

Inner bark can be eaten both raw and cooked. The bark can be dried, ground into powder, and added to grain flour, for example, to make bread. It has a very bitter taste when fresh and is used as food during famine. Leaves and young shoots can also be eaten raw or cooked, although they are not very tasty. These are used in times of food scarcity or famine, and the leaves can serve as a substitute for tea.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/09
Harvest ends: 28/02

Crown

Crown shape: Narrow weeping
Crown density: Dense crown

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1427267; name ID 2918656; Salix L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1426684; name ID 2918128; Salix pentandra L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Native Plant Trust; Go Botany Salix pentandra — Go Botany
    Supports: Foliage
    Relevant sections
    • Foliage: Leaf duration

    Source checked on .