Silver willow; silver willow;

The silver willow, also known as Salix alba, is a plant from the willow genus (Salix) and belongs to the willow family (Salicaceae). It is one of the few tree-like willows and is found throughout Europe (with the exception of Scandinavia), North Africa and Central Asia.

For phytotherapeutic use, see willow.

The silver willow can grow to heights of up to 35 meters and reaches an age of around 200 years. The trunk of the silver willow reaches a diameter of around one meter and the bark is greyish in color. Young twigs are yellow to reddish-brown in color and hairy, while older twigs are not hairy. The leaves of the willow reach a length of up to 12 cm and have a narrow, lancet-like shape. The shiny hairs on the underside give the leaves a silvery sheen.
The silver willow flowers in April and May. The male flowers are yellow in color, the female flowers are initially green and later woolly-white. The distinctive catkins grow up to 7 cm long.

Naturopathy: Salix alba is the parent plant of Salicis cortex, the dried bark of young twigs or dried pieces of young twigs from the current year.

Cosmetics: Several parts of the willow are used cosmetically (flowers, leaves, bark):

• Salix alba bark extract (extract from the bark)
• Salix alba flower extract (extract from the flowers)
• Salix alba leaf extract (extract from the leaves)