Salix magnifica
Common name: 
Magnolia-leaf Willow
Magnificent Willow
Pronunciation: 
SA-liks mag-NIH-fee-kuh
Family: 
Salicaceae
Genus: 
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Broadleaf deciduous shrub or small tree, to about 20 ft ( 6 m) tall, twigs purple becoming red.  Leaves, magnolia-like, alternate, simple, elliptic, ovate, or obovate-oblong, 25 × 11 cm (the largest of any willow), leathery, base rounded or subcordate, margin entire to serrulate, dark green above, midvein often purplish red.  Dioecious -- male and female catkins on separate plants, each catkin to 10 × 1.5 cm.  Female catkin expands to 25 cm at fruit maturity, individual fruit small, only about 6 mm.
  • Sun to partial shade, nearly any reasonable soil, best if moist.
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 6.  Native to China, in northern and western Sichuan, found near water, in woodlands on mountain slopes; 2,100-3,000 m. (6,000-9,840 ft).
Click image to enlarge
  • plant habit, young plant

    plant habit, young plant

  • shoot and branch

    shoot and branch

  • leaves and female catkins

    leaves and female catkins

  • leaf

    leaf

  • leaf, underside and margin

    leaf, underside and margin

  • female catkin, before and at seed release

    female catkin, before and at seed release