Plant Details

Salix viminalis

Osier, Basket Willow

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Salix viminalis.

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Common names

33 names · 26 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (25)
Dutch
French
  • Osier vert[1]
  • Saule des vanniers[1]
  • Vime[1]
Basque
  • Sahats jatorra[1]
Belarusian
  • Лаза прырэчная[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • vrba košíkářská[1]
Danish
Estonian
Finnish
German
Hungarian
  • Kosárfonó fűz[1]
  • kosárkötőfűz[1]
Japanese
  • セイヨウキヌヤナギ[1]
Korean
  • 육지꽃버들[1]
Latvian
  • Klūdziņu kārkls[1]
Lithuanian
  • Žilvitinis karklas[1]
Norwegian
Polish
  • Wierzba wiciowa[1]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Ива корзиночная[1]
  • Ива прутовидная[1]
Slovak
  • vŕba košikárska[1]
Spanish
Swedish
Turkish
  • Sepetçi Söğüdü[1]
Ukrainian
  • верба лозова[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 viminalis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • Katwilg — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 55822; Salix viminalis.
  • Vimieiro — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 55822; Salix viminalis.
  • basket willow — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 55822; Salix viminalis.
  • Osier — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 55822; Salix viminalis.
  • Saule des vanniers — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 55822; Salix viminalis.
  • Vime — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 55822; Salix viminalis.
  • Osier vert — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 55822; Salix viminalis.
  • Ива корзиночная — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 55822; Salix viminalis.
  • Ива прутовидная — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 55822; Salix viminalis.
  • vrba košíkářská — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 55822; Salix viminalis.
  • Bånd-pil — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 55822; Salix viminalis.
  • Koripaju — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 55822; Salix viminalis.
  • kurvpil — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 55822; Salix viminalis.
  • Žilvitinis karklas — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 55822; Salix viminalis.
  • Wierzba wiciowa — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 55822; Salix viminalis.
  • セイヨウキヌヤナギ — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 55822; Salix viminalis.
  • vitspaju — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 55822; Salix viminalis.
  • 蒿柳 — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 55822; Salix viminalis.
  • 蒿柳 — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 55822; Salix viminalis.
  • common osier — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 55822; Salix viminalis.
  • korgvide — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 55822; Salix viminalis.
  • Лаза прырэчная — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 55822; Salix viminalis.
  • верба лозова — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 55822; Salix viminalis.
  • Klūdziņu kārkls — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 55822; Salix viminalis.
  • Kosárfonó fűz — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 55822; Salix viminalis.
  • kosárkötőfűz — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 55822; Salix viminalis.
  • vŕba košikárska — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 55822; Salix viminalis.
  • Mimbre — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 55822; Salix viminalis.
  • Sepetçi Söğüdü — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 55822; Salix viminalis.
  • 육지꽃버들 — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 55822; Salix viminalis.
  • Sahats jatorra — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 55822; Salix viminalis.
  • Korb-Weide — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 55822; Salix viminalis.
  • Hanf-Weide — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 55822; Salix viminalis.

General information

Scientific name: Salix viminalis
Accepted name (Kew): Salix viminalis 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: Osier, Basket Willow
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Tree
Catalogue size class: Medium
Height: 6.00 m
Spread: 4.00 m
Growth rate: Slow
Foliage: Deciduous

Leaf retention described in the New England flora.

Sources [2]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4-8
Soil moisture:
Moist, Wet
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Inner bark, Tea
Edibility rating:
(1)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Basketry, Pioneer species, Windbreak, Wood

Description

The inner bark of the tree can be eaten both raw and cooked. The bark can be dried, ground into a powder, and added to grain flour to make bread, for example. When fresh, the bark has a very bitter taste. It can even be eaten during food shortages. The leaves and young shoots of the tree can also be eaten raw or cooked, although they are not particularly tasty. In times of scarcity, they are used as food. The leaves can also serve as a substitute for tea.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/12
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 1426589; name ID 2918419; Salix viminalis L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

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

    Source checked on .