Salix sitchensis aka Sitka Willow

Salix sitchensis is a willow in the family Salicaceae. Its native range starts in subarctic North America. It extends to the southwestern United States. It grows in temperate climates, where heat and cold are moderate. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. It grows as a large shrub or small tree. The reported height range is 3–25 feet [0.9–7.6 metres]. Stems can reach 1 foot [0.3 metres] across. This range is for the species, not a stated garden size.

The gray bark may stay smooth. Some stems have shallow grooves and patches of scaly bark. Fine hairs coat the young, yellow-green twigs. With age, they lose those hairs and turn reddish brown. Twigs are brittle where they join the branch. These changes give young and old shoots distinct colors and textures.

The leaves fall each year. They grow alternately, taking turns along each side of the stem. Each leaf is simple, not split into leaflets. Leaves measure 0.125–0.25 feet [0.038–0.076 metres] long. They are widest above the middle and narrow toward the base. Their shape ranges from obovate to oblanceolate. These terms mean egg-shaped to narrow, with the wider end toward the tip. The edges may be smooth or have tiny glandular teeth. The top is glossy green. Flat, silky hairs give the leaf's underside a satin-like sheen. Short, velvety stalks hold the leaves. Half-oval stipules, small leaf-like parts, sit beside them. They drop early from twigs that grow slowly. On fast-growing shoots, they last through the season.

The flowers form upright catkins, in shades from cream to yellow. Catkins reach about 0.17–0.25 feet [0.05–0.076 metres] long. They emerge in early spring, just before or with the leaves. The species is dioecious. This means male and female flowers grow on separate plants. The fruits are small capsules shaped like teardrops. They release tiny seeds with silky hairs. Wind then carries the seeds away. Fruit forms and sheds its seeds early in the growing season.

The supplied sources clearly describe the plant's visible traits. They give no garden needs for light, soil, or water. They give no hardiness zones or spread in gardens. They give no account of landscape uses for this species. Nor do they cover its pests or diseases. The evidence does not address whether any parts are safe to eat. It also does not address toxicity.