Willow Identification Key: Salix daphnoides

Common Name:

Violet willow

Scientific Name:

Salix daphnoides

New Zealand Clones:

Technical Description:

Habit: Small tree, up to 10 m high, upright branches, narrow crown.

Shoots: Purple brown to dark brown; waxy bluish white bloom.

Leaves: 5-10 cm long, 0.7-3 cm wide; oblong lanceolate; dark green above, pale bluish white below; margins finely toothed, slightly undulate; leaf stalk long (up to 13 mm; not bitter.

Catkins: Mainly male; cylindrical, erect, 3-5 cm long; appearing before the leaves.

Comments: Mainly planted in Hawkes Bay and Christchurch. Distinguished by shoots with bluish white bloom (most obvious on shoots in sheltered situations) and bluish underside of leaves.

Shoots of Salix daphnoides 'Otago' (left) and 'QP' (right) showing whitish bloom
Shoots of Salix daphnoides 'Otago' (left) and 'QP' (right) showing whitish bloom
Salix daphnoides stem
Salix daphnoides stem
Shoot of Salix daphnoides 'G'
Shoot of Salix daphnoides 'G'
Shoot of Salix daphnoides 'QP'
Shoot of Salix daphnoides 'QP'
Upper and lower leaf surface detail of Salix daphnoides 'Otago'
Upper and lower leaf surface detail of Salix daphnoides 'Otago'
Upper leaf surfaces of Salix daphnoides clones (from left to right): 'Otago', PN696, 'QP', 'CZ', 'Taihape' and 'G' showing variation in leaf shape
Upper leaf surfaces of Salix daphnoides clones (from left to right): 'Otago', PN696, 'QP', 'CZ', 'Taihape' and 'G' showing variation in leaf shape
Upper leaf surfaces of Salix daphnoides clones: 'CZ' and 'Taihape'
Upper leaf surfaces of Salix daphnoides clones: 'CZ' and 'Taihape'
Upper leaf surfaces of Salix daphnoides clones: 'Otago' and 'PN696'
Upper leaf surfaces of Salix daphnoides clones: 'Otago' and 'PN696'