Reproduction of goat willow
Reproduction of goat willow
The pussy willow or goat willow (Salix caprea L., 1753) is a plant of the Salicaceae family distributed in nature in a large Eurasian area.
Suitable breeding habitat –
The Salix caprea is a plant widespread in a vast area that goes from Europe to Japan.
Its range of origin extends from Great Britain and Ireland through continental Europe to western Asia, including the northern regions of Iran.
In Italy it is present in all regions, except in Sardinia, from sea level to the subalpine belt. It adapts well to different types of soil, provided it is not asphyxiated and tolerates a certain summer aridity well.
It is a pioneer species that colonizes the edges of the woods. It lives mainly in the hills and mountains, but is also found in the plains.
As for habitat, it is a versatile plant that can adapt to a variety of environmental conditions. It is usually found in moist areas such as forests, swamps, wetlands, riverbanks and lakes. It is particularly adaptable to moist, well-drained soils, but can also survive in drier soils.
Propagation –
The Salix caprea is a plant that thrives well in humid environments such as river and lake banks, and in even drier sites.
Propagation can be accomplished through several methods including propagation by cuttings and propagation by grafting.
However, unlike almost all other willows, pure specimens do not take root easily from cuttings.
To propagate it by cuttings it is necessary to take cuttings from a healthy mother plant and root them to form new plants. In this case it is advisable to cut healthy and young cuttings from the mother plant during the winter or spring season. The cuttings should be about 15-20cm long and about 0.5-1cm in diameter.
Subsequently, the basal leaves of the cuttings must be removed and, if necessary, the upper leaves should be cut in half to reduce transpiration. A rooting hormone can be applied to the base of the cuttings to encourage root formation.
Thus we move on to the rooting phase. To facilitate this operation, the cuttings must be planted in well-drained soil or in a light growing medium, such as a mixture of peat and perlite. Make sure that at least one third of the length of the cutting is buried in the substrate. Keep the substrate moist and place the cuttings in a partially shaded location.
It is then necessary to keep the cuttings moist but not excessively wet. After a few weeks or months, roots should form and the cuttings will begin to develop new shoots. Subsequently, the new plants can be transplanted into permanent soil.
In propagation by grafting, the method provides for the union of a Salix caprea plant (graft) on a graft of another plant of the genus Salix (rootstock) which has the desired growth and resistance characteristics. Propagation by graft is often used to ensure that new plants have the same characteristics as the mother plant. The graft can generally be carried out in bud or split. If possible, a grafting knife and synthetic raffia, more suitable for the operation, are used.
Ecology –
The leaves of Salix caprea are used as a food resource by various species of Lepidoptera and are also commonly eaten by grazing mammals. Willows are very susceptible to various plant diseases and pests including Rhabdophaga rosaria which forms galls.
Both tannin and salicin can be extracted from the bark of this plant. The tree is not considered a good source of timber, as its wood is brittle and known to crackle violently when burned.
As with the closely related Salix discolor, it is also often grown for cut flowers.
In Scandinavia it has been quite common to make willow flutes from cuttings of this willow.
In Germany, Hungary, northern Slovakia, Poland and the Ukraine, freshly opened catkins are used like olive branches on Palm Sunday.