Mandelweide

An Flussläufen vorkommend bewohnt die Mandelweide als Großstrauch (1 bis 4 m hoch) Gebiete ohne Spätfröste in ganz Europa. Bodenarten gegenüber ist sie, genügend Feuchtigkeit vorausgesetzt, unempfindlich. Auf Torfböden übertrifft sie alle anderen Korbweiden erheblich.

Die Mandelweide unterscheidet sich von allen anderen Weiden durch die drei Staubgefäße ihrer männlichen Blüten. Die schmal zylindrischen Blütenkätzchen erscheinen April / Mai kurz vor den Blättern. Die männlichen Kätzchen stehen auf 2 cm langen Stielen und werden bis zu 8 cm lang und 8 mm dick. Die weiblichen besitzen einen 4 cm langen Stiel, werden bis zu 6 cm lang und 6 mm dick.

 

Die Blätter sind - ähnlichen denen des Mandelbaumes - zwischen 5 und 8 cm lang und 1 - 2 cm breit, erst am oberen Drittel zugespitzt. Ihre dunkelgrüne Oberseite zeigt einen leichten Glanz, während die Unterseite matt und heller grün bis blaugrün erscheint.  Der Blattrand ist ist fein gesägt.

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. Does best in wet seasons. A good bee plant, providing a source of pollen and nectar early in the year. The flowers are especially fragrant for a willow. Plants are best put into their permanent positions as soon as possible. The root system is rather aggressive and can cause problems with drains. It is best not to grow this species within 10 metres of a building. Often cultivated for its stems, which are used in basket making, there are many named varieties. The stems should be cut down almost to ground level each winter in order to produce long flexible canes. The smooth flaking bark has a smell of almonds. 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. One report says that the stems have a sweet flavour.

Basketry Dye The stems are very flexible and are used in basket making. They are highly valued. 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. A yellow dye is obtained from the bark and young leaves. Succeeds in wet, ill-drained or intermittently flooded soils. Dynamic accumulator.

Heimisch: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Altay, Amur, Austria, Baltic States, Belgium, Brussels-Capital Region, Bulgaria, Buryatiya, Central European Russia, Chita, Czechia-Slovakia, DK, East European Russia, FI, Finland, Flanders, Flemish Region, France, Germany, Global, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Irkutsk, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Khabarovsk, Krasnoyarsk, Krym, Lebanon-Syria, Magadan, NO, NW. Balkan Pen., Netherlands, North America, North Caucasus, North European Russia, Northwest European Russia, Norway, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Portugal Continental, Primorye, Romania, SE, Sakhalin, South European Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Ukraine, Walloon Region, West Siberia, Yakutiya Eingeführt: AU, Belgium, CA, Channel Is., District of Columbia, England, France, GB, Great Britain, IE, Ireland, New Brunswick, Northern Ireland, Nova Scotia, Ohio, Ontario, Quebec, Scotland, The Netherlands, Wales