Lorbeerweide

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. 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. A very ornamental plant. Best planted into its permanent position when young. The root system is rather aggressive and can cause problems with drains. The dried or bruised leaves have a sweet aromatic fragrance. The scent resembles oil of wintergreen and is due to the presence of salicyl aldehyde. Cultivated for its use in basket making, there are several named varieties. 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 Shoots Edible Uses: 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 - cooked. Not very palatable.

Basketry Pot-pourri Landscape Uses: Specimen. Special Features: Not North American native, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms. The stems are very flexible and are used in basket making. The plant is usually coppiced annually when grown for basket making, though it is possible to coppice it every two years if thick poles are required as uprights. The dried leaves have a pleasant aromatic aroma and can be used in pot-pourri. Succeeds in most soils, including wet, ill-drained or intermittently flooded soils.

Heimisch: Albania, Altay, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Bulgaria, Central European Russia, China North-Central, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, Dervja, East European Russia, England (England, Wales, Isle of Man [I], Scotland, Outer Hebrides [I], Orkney Isl. [I], Shetland Isl. [I]); Ireland (Ireland, Northern Ireland); Denmark; Norway; Sweden; Finland; Netherlands; Belgium [I]; Luxembourg [I]; Germany (Brandenburg, Berlin, Baden-Württemberg, Bayern, Hessen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Schleswig-Holstein, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt, Thüringen); Switzerland; ?Liechtenstein; Austria; Poland; Czech Republic; Slovakia; Hungary; Spain [I]; France; Channel Isl. [I] (Alderney [I], Jersey [I]); Italy; Slovenia; Croatia; Bosnia & Hercegovina; Montenegro; Serbia; Kosovo; North Macedonia; Albania; Romania; Bulgaria; Estonia; Latvia; Lithuania; Belarus; C-European Russia; E-European Russia; N-European Russia; W-European Russia; Moldova; Ukraine; Siberia (Altai, W-Siberia); Kazakhstan; Tajikistan; Northern Caucasus; Georgia [Caucasus]; Azerbaijan; Turkey (E-Anatolia, Inner Anatolia, N-Anatolia, NE-Anatolia, W-Anatolia); China (Hebei, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Xinjiang); Mongolia; Alaska [I]; Canada [I] (Alberta [I], British Columbia [I], Manitoba [I], New Brunswick [I], Newfoundland [I], Nova Scotia [I], Ontario [I], Québec [I], Saskatchewan [I]); USA [I] (Colorado [I], Connecticut [I], District of Columbia [I], Iowa [I], Illinois [I], Indiana [I], Kentucky [I], Massachusetts [I], Maryland [I], Maine [I], Michigan [I], Minnesota [I], Montana [I], North Carolina [I], North Dakota [I], Nebraska [I], New Hampshire [I], New Jersey [I], New York [I], Ohio [I], Pennsylvania [I], Rhode Island [I], South Dakota [I], Virginia [I], Vermont [I], Wisconsin [I], Wyoming [I]), Etnedal, Finland, France, Germany, Global, Great Britain, Greece, Hattfjelldal, Hungary, Inner Mongolia, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Manchuria, Mongolia, NW. Balkan Pen., Netherlands, Nord Fron, Nord Odal, Nordreisa, North America, North Caucasus, North European Russia, Northwest European Russia, Norway, Poland, Romania, South European Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Ukraine, Vest Slidre, West Siberia, Xinjiang, Øst Slidre Eingeführt: Alabama, Alaska, Alberta, Belgium, British Columbia, Brussels-Capital Region, Colorado, Congo, District of Columbia, Flemish Region, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Manitoba, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Newfoundland, North Carolina, Nova Scotia, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Québec, Rhode I., Saskatchewan, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, Walloon Region, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Yemen