Purpleosier Willow, Alaska Blue Willow         SA-liks per-PU-ree-a

• Broadleaf deciduous shrub/tree, 8-10+ ft (2.4-3 m).  Leaves alternate, occasionally opposite, simple, slender, 5-10 cm x 0.3-0.8 cm, lustrous dark blue-green above and pale or glaucous below.  Slender branches, tough, purplish at first, finally light gray  Supple stems are used in basket making.
• Sun.  Good for wet areas, especially to stabilize banks along streams.
• Hardy to USDA Zone 3      Native to Europe, northern Africa to central Asia and Japan.  Salix purpurea and another Eurasian williow, Salix viminalis, have long rodlike stems and are highly prized for basketry.  The term, osier, refers to those willows with pliable twigs that are used for furniture and basketry.
• A few cultivars are available, including a  ‘Nana’, a dwarf form.