Kriechweide

Succeeds in most soils, including wet, ill-drained or intermittently flooded soils, but prefers a damp, heavy soil in a sunny position. Rarely thrives on chalk. A polymorphic plant, there are many sub-species and cultivars. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus. Although the flowers are produced in catkins early in the year, they are pollinated by bees and other insects rather than by the wind. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

Edible Parts: Inner bark Leaves Oil Shoots Edible Uses: Oil Inner bark - raw or cooked. It can be dried, ground into a powder and then added to cereal flour for use in making bread etc. A very bitter flavour, it is a famine food that is only used when all else fails. Young shoots - raw or cooked. They are not very palatable.

Oil Soil stabilization Tannin An admirable ground cover plant. The plants extensive root system also makes it a good soil stabilizer on sand dunes. The sub-species S. repens argentea is the form best used for this. The plant is also used for stabilizing old waste tips and slag heaps. The bark contains about 10% tannin. Dynamic accumulator.

Heimisch: Austria, Baltic States, Belgium, Central European Russia, Czechia-Slovakia, DK, Denmark, Finland, Flanders, France, Germany, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, NO, NW. Balkan Pen., Netherlands, North European Russia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Portugal Continental, SE, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland