Salix miyabeana aka Smiths Purple Willow

Salix miyabeana, or Miyabe willow, belongs to the willow family, Salicaceae. Its native range runs from the southern Russian Far East to northern China. It also includes Korea and Japan. Kew places this species in the temperate biome. Plants For A Future describes it as a deciduous shrub. Chicago Botanic Garden lists it as an upright tree. The shrub reaches about 16 feet [5 metres] tall. These sources give no mature spread.

The stems bend well and have a use in basket making. Growers can cut plants back each year for basket stems. A two-year cutting cycle provides thicker poles for basket uprights. This practice, called coppicing, allows repeated harvests of new stems. The plant also has listed uses for fodder and biomass. In gardens, its upright form suits a screen or hedge. The supplied species records give no detailed leaf or bark description.

Flowers appear in catkins early in the year. Chicago Botanic Garden gives the bloom season as March to April. Bees and other insects pollinate the flowers. Male and female flowers grow on separate plants. Grow both sexes if seed is needed. The plant cannot set seed through self-pollination. Plants For A Future notes that it crosses with other willows. Fresh seed needs prompt sowing because it stays viable only briefly. Sow it on the surface when ripe in late spring.

Choose a sunny site with moist or wet soil. Chicago Botanic Garden also lists partial shade as suitable. Plants For A Future favours damp, heavy soil in sun. It reports tolerance of poor drainage and brief flooding. Sand, loam and clay can all support this species. Mildly acid to neutral soil suits it, but chalk is less suitable. Chicago Botanic Garden lists USDA hardiness zones 4–6. It records moderate watering needs, while Plants For A Future stresses damp conditions.

Cuttings offer another way to raise new plants. Plants For A Future describes both mature and half-ripe cuttings as easy. Take mature wood from November to February, or half-ripe shoots from June to August. The same source lists no known edible uses or hazards. That lack of reported hazards does not prove safety for people or pets. It gives the plant a medicinal rating of two out of five. It also lists no weed potential.