Salix aegyptiaca aka Egyptian Willow

Salix aegyptiaca is a willow in the Salicaceae family. It sheds its leaves each year. Gardeners call it musk willow or Armenian willow. Its native range runs from southeast Türkiye to northern Iran. Plants For A Future lists northern Iraq and Azerbaijan too. It grows in Asian mountains with a temperate climate. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

This willow grows as a bushy shrub or small tree. Its round crown suits hedges, screens, and garden borders. Garden plants reach 13–26 feet (4–8 m) tall and wide. They take about ten to twenty years to reach full size. The RHS lists red-purple shoots and dark green leaves. These leaves are oblong, with a long, broad shape. They can reach about 0.5 feet (0.15 m) long. Chicago lists silvery gray stems and softer, gray-green leaves. The two sources thus give different stem and leaf colors.

The scented flower clusters, called catkins, bloom before leaves unfold. The RHS gives late winter or early spring for bloom. Chicago gives March to April as the bloom period. Male and female flowers grow on separate plants. Both have silvery catkins. Male flowers have bright yellow anthers, which hold pollen. Male catkins reach about 0.13 feet (0.04 m) long. Female catkins reach about 0.26 feet (0.08 m) long. The early blooms add interest before the leafy crown forms.

Grow this willow in deep, moist soil with full sun. Chicago lists part shade as a choice too. It accepts clay, loam, and sand across the pH range. The RHS allows moist ground that drains well or drains poorly. Its UK hardiness rating is H6. Chicago lists USDA zones 4–8 and moderate water needs. The RHS suggests wildlife gardens and sites near the coast. Chicago also says it resists deer. Grow new plants from softwood or hardwood cuttings.

Aphids, caterpillars, and leaf beetles may attack this willow. Sawflies and willow scale may attack it too. Disease risks include anthracnose, scab, and canker. Honey fungus and rust also pose risks. Plants For A Future gives it a low food-use rating. It lists flowers, inner bark, leaves, and shoots as edible. Inner bark serves as emergency food, raw or cooked. People also dry and grind it to mix with flour. Cooked young shoots have little appeal as food. Other recorded uses include male catkins with sugar. People also use scented catkins in drinks. That source reports no known hazards. This does not prove that the plant is wholly safe.