Willow Identification Key: S. alba var. vitellina

Common Name:

Golden willow

Scientific Name:

Salix alba var. vitellina

New Zealand Clones:

Technical Description:

Habit: Medium sized tree, up to 15-20 m high, open crown with spreading branches.

Shoots: Orange-yellow, later yellowish brown, soon without hairs.

Leaves: 8-12 cm long, 1.5-2 cm wide, lanceolate; margins finely serrate; lustrous green and slightly hairy above, bluish grey and thinly hairy below; yellowish galls common.

Catkins: Only female in New Zealand; narrow-cylindrical, curved; 4-6 cm long; appearing with leaves, September- October.

Comments: Forms white rootlets in water. Distinctive wide, spreading crown with yellow or orange-yellow twigs, often ragged appearance.

Salix alba var. vitellina (left) and Salix fragilis (right). Note difference in shoot colour.
Salix alba var. vitellina (left) and Salix fragilis (right). Note difference in shoot colour.
Salix alba var. vitellina shoots
Salix alba var. vitellina shoots
Upper (left) and lower (right) leaf surfaces of Salix alba var. vitellina
Upper (left) and lower (right) leaf surfaces of Salix alba var. vitellina
Shoot of Salix alba var. vitellina
Shoot of Salix alba var. vitellina
Salix alba var. vitellina catkins
Salix alba var. vitellina catkins