Willows Suitable for Creating Living Sculptures:

Salix viminalis - Osier - This is a fantastically long and straight variety. Once established, it can grow 3min a year! Good for the framework of structures.

Salix triandra - A number of types of this variety are good for creating smaller willow structures and fences such as Noire de Villaine and Black Maul. This variety leafs low down the rod and responds well to being trimmed back.

Salix purpurea - As with triandra, a number of types are good for creating smaller structures. Purpurea has lovely delicate rods and produces reliable growth.

Willows Suitable for Native Tree Planting Schemes:

Salix alba - White Willow - An elegant tree with green and white downy leaves. Young bark growth is brown. Grows to 25m.

Salix cinerea - Grey Sallow - A waterside shrub. Downy leaves and young branches. Grows to 5m.

Salix daphnoides - Violet Willow - Lovely violet purple stems which take on a bloom in the springtime. Grows to 8m.

Salix fragilis - Crack Willow - A waterside tree often grown as a pollard. Fast growing to 25m.

Salix nigricans - Black Willow - Young growth is a lovely black and green. Grows to 10m.

Salix purpurea - Purple Willow - A spreading shrub with delicate branches grows to 4m.

Salix pentandra - Bay Willow - Glossy leaves. Native in the north of Britain. Grows to 15m.

Salix phylicifolia - Tea-leaved Willow - A lovely shrub. Chestnut coloured wood and shining leaves. Grows to 5m

Salix viminalis - Osier - A waterside shrub. Very fast growing - coppiced for rough basketry. Grows to 8m.

Salix alba britzensis - Red Willow - Bright red branches in the winter. If left uncut will grow to 25m.

Salix alba vitellina - Golden Willow - Yellow branches on the young growth best maintained by pollarding. Grows to 25m.

Willows Suitable For Basketry:

Dicky Meadows (Salix purpurea) Slender reddish brown growth. grows to 5ft per year.

Dark Dicks (Salix purpurea) A lovely slender dark purple/brown stem. Grows to 5ft per year.

Light Dicks (Salix purpurea) Slender light green stem . Grows to 5ft per year.

Richartii (Salix purpurea) Purple stems that grows to 5ft in one year.

Black Maul (Salix triandra) The typical Somerset willow. Brown stem - grows to 6ft. Lovely and pliable.

Weeping willows:

Salix babylonica - Weeping Willow - Ornamental tree grow by water. Long thin trailing branches of yellow twigs and lanceolate leaves.

Salix caprea pendula - Dwarf Weeping Willow or Kilmarnock Willow - An ornamental dwarf weeping willow tree suitable for small gardens.