White Willow (Salix alba) Bare Root Tree 30–50cm - The Healing Herb Garden

White Willow Bare Root Plant (Salix alba)

Name: White Willow Bare Root Plant (Salix alba)
SKU: HHG-BR-WILLOW
Price: 8.95 GBP
Availability: InStock

£8.95

Fast-growing, flexible and full of history.

White willow brings silvery foliage, early spring catkins and quick, resilient growth. Its supple stems give flexible structure to a hedge and are traditionally used for weaving, while its bark has a long place in herbal history.

Catkins: March–April
Wildlife: One of the earliest food sources for bees
Best for: Moist ground, screening and quick structure
Supplied as: a single field-grown bare root plant

Seasonal shipping notice
Bare root plants are despatched only in the dormant season, November to February, so they arrive asleep and establish strongly in spring.

White willow is also part of our Native Heal Foragers Hedge – Living Hedgerow Collection.

Botanical name: Salix alba

Common name: White Willow

Life cycle: Deciduous native tree

Height: Can reach 20m+; easily coppiced or pollarded to keep small

Spread: Up to 8m if unpruned

Flowers: Catkins, March–April

Position: Full sun

Soil: Moist to wet soils

Hardiness: Fully hardy

Suitable for containers: Only short term in a very large container

Suitable for beginners: Yes

Pollinator value: High – one of the earliest pollen sources for bees

Planting

Location: Full sun in moist ground. Keep at least 10m from buildings and drains, as roots seek water.

Planting time: November to March while the plant is dormant, whenever the ground is not frozen or waterlogged. Soak the roots in a bucket of water for an hour before planting.

Spacing: Plant at around 1m for a hedge or living screen, or give a single tree plenty of space.

Care

Watering: Keep well watered in its first year, especially on lighter soils.

Feeding: Not usually needed.

Pruning: Coppice or pollard every few years in late winter to keep it small and produce flexible new stems.

Harvesting & Storage

Harvesting: Cut stems for weaving in winter. Bark was traditionally collected in spring.

Storage: Bundle cut stems and keep them somewhere cool until use.

UK Growing Conditions

Grows very fast in UK conditions, especially in damp ground, and recovers quickly from hard pruning.

Traditional Herbal Uses

White willow bark has a long history in European herbal tradition and is the plant from which salicin, linked to the history of aspirin, was first studied.

Please note: Traditional uses are included for cultural and educational interest and are not medical advice. This product is sold as a garden plant. Seek professional advice before using any plant medicinally.

Wildlife & Garden Benefits

Early catkins are a vital spring food for bees, and willow supports a huge range of insects and the birds that feed on them.

Bare root plants: Bare root plants are lifted from the field while dormant and despatched only between November and February. Orders placed now are reserved and sent at the right planting moment, with an email beforehand giving your delivery window.

On arrival: Plant as soon as possible. If you cannot plant straight away, keep the roots moist and wrapped, or heel the plants into a trench of soil until conditions allow.

Other items in your order: Seeds and garden supplies are normally despatched within 2–4 working days.