Salix purpurea

Origin: Europe, Central Asia, North Africa

Botanical characteristics: It is a large shrub or small tree. It is deciduous, fast-growing and reaches 5 meters in height. It has an upright growth habit with curved branches that are red when young and then grey-greenish. Leaves are oblong, up to 12 cm long, dark green on the upper side, glaucous green below. It is a dioecious with male and female flowers on separated plants arranged in slender silvery-green catkins. The blooming occurs in spring, before the leaves.

Agronomic and environmental characteristics: It grows spontaneously along the river shores, up to 1800 meters above sea level.

Use: It is a plant that is often grown and used isolated and in groups for free hedges in spontaneous parks and gardens. It is used along streams and is suitable for covering moist slopes and reforestation of uncultivated moist areas.