About Salix sericea Marshall
Salix sericea Marshall, commonly called silky willow, is a shrub species in the Salicaceae family. It grows in swamps and along riverbanks in the eastern United States and eastern Canada. This shrub reaches a height of 2 to 4 meters, which equals 6.6 to 13.1 feet, and produces long, thin, purplish twigs. Its leaves are 6 to 10 cm long and 7 to 8 mm wide, with a lanceolate shape, acuminate tips, and finely serrulate margins. Upper leaf surfaces are dark green with light hair coverage, while lower leaf surfaces are light green and densely covered in white silky hairs. Mature leaves of this species are glabrous, hairless. Leaf petioles grow to 1 cm in length. Its catkins are sessile and typically bracteate. S. sericea blooms in May and produces fruit in June.
