A small willow named after its prominent purple-red female catkins and stems.

Native to much of north-west Europe, including Britain and Ireland, and into the Caucasus, western Asia and North Africa. Cultivated in withy beds, but also naturalised in wet places.

Dioecious.

Grows to 5m. Bark grey, smooth, unfissured, with lenticel bands. Shoots green-yellow, turning red-purple unless shaded. Unusually for a willow, leaves are often in opposite pairs, glabrous, lanceolate, broadening towards a blunt tip, more prominently serrated away from the base, 2-8cm, dark green above and paler, glaucous below. Female trees bear purple-red catkins, 2-4cm, in early spring.

As for Common Osier.

As for Common Osier.

Watermark disease, which causes dieback. Also, scab and rusts.

As for Common Osier. Bark contains high levels of salicylic acid. A lovely ornamental tree.