Willows, or sallows and osiers, belong to the genus Salix, which includes around 350 species and many hybrids. These typically deciduous trees and shrubs are found mainly in cold and temperate regions, often in moist soils.
Most species are called willows, while some narrow-leaved shrubs are referred to as osiers and broader-leaved ones as sallows. The term “sallow” comes from Old English “sealh,” related to the Latin “salix.”
Certain willows, particularly arctic and alpine varieties, grow as low or creeping shrubs. For example, the dwarf willow (Salix herbacea) rarely exceeds 6 centimeters (about 2.5 inches) in height but spreads widely across the ground.
