Siberian Violet Willow (Salix acutifolia) is a fast-growing, spreading deciduous shrub or small tree from northern and eastern Europe to Central Asia, grown for its purple young shoots and early catkins. It needs moist soil and full sun, and it is hardy and easy to grow.
Family
Salicaceae (Willow family)
Grows as
Tree, Shrub
Light
Full sun
Water
Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during the first few years and in dry spells.
Hardy to around -30 °C; tolerates cold winters well.
How easy
Easy
Native range
N. & E. Europe to Kazakhstan
Climate
temperate
About
Salix acutifolia, also known as Siberian violet-willow, long-leaved violet willow or sharp-leaf willow, is a species of flowering plant in the family Salicaceae, native to Russia and eastern Asia. It is a spreading, deciduous shrub or tree, growing to 10 m (33 ft) tall by 12 m (39 ft) wide. The young shoots are deep purple with a white bloom. The leaves are narrow, up to 10 cm (4 in) long. The catkins are produced in early spring, before the leaves. Older bark has a fine, netted pattern.
Like all willows this species is dioecious. Male catkins are 5 cm (2 in) and silvery, with gold anthers, while female catkins are green and 3 cm (1 in) long.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Salix acutifolia by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.