Silver willow; silver willow;

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

The silver willow can reach growth heights of up to 35 metres and reaches an age of about 200 years. The trunk of the white willow can reach a diameter of about one meter, the bark is greyish in colour. Young branches are yellow to reddish brown in colour and are hairy, while older branches are not hairy. The willow leaves can reach a length of up to 12 cm and have a narrow, lancet-like shape. Due to their shiny hairs on the underside, the leaves appear silvery shiny.
The flowering time of the silver willow is in the months of April and May. The male flowers are yellow in colour, the female flowers first green and later woolly white. The striking catkins grow up to 7 cm long.

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

Cosmetics: Several parts of willow are used for cosmetic purposes (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)