Salix daphnoides aka Violet Willow

Salix daphnoides, also known as the European violet willow, is a species of plant in the family Salicaceae. It is a spreading deciduous shrub or small tree that can reach a height of 6-8 meters, with the potential to grow up to 12 meters tall. The plant features reddish young shoots and oblong, dark green leaves. In late winter and early spring, it produces silky grey male catkins with yellow anthers. The stems of Salix daphnoides turn a beautiful purple-violet color from early autumn to mid-winter, hence its common name. It is commonly grown as a multi-stemmed shrub or small tree, with a typical height range of 7-10 meters for shrubs and 10-20 meters for trees. The leaves are oblong to lance-shaped and finely toothed, with a dark green color on the upper side and a glaucous appearance below. The plant is dioecious, with separate male and female flowering catkins. These catkins, measuring around 1 inch, have ornamental value. The specific epithet of Salix daphnoides refers to its resemblance to the genus Daphne.