Willow may be pinker if pollarded (5)
I believe the answer is:
osier
'willow' is the definition.
(osier is a kind of willow)
'pinker if pollarded' is the wordplay.
'pinker' becomes 'rosier'.
'if pollarded' means to remove the first letter (to pollard is to cut the top off a branch).
'rosier' with its first letter taken off is 'OSIER'.
'may be' is the link.
(Other definitions for osier that I've seen before include "Willow with twigs for basket-weaving" , "one used to get weaving?" , "Withy" , "Tree for basket making" , "Basket producer" .)