Heartleaf willow

Leaves

Form

• Lance-shaped, base rounded to heart-shaped
• Hairy in spring, becoming smooth in summer

Length

• 10–15 cm
• Stipules 10–20 mm

Colour

• Upper surface dark green, tinged with reddish-purple
• Lower surface very pale

Autumn colour

• Red

Margin

• Finely toothed
• Stipules somewhat toothed

Buds

Form

• Pointed, pressed against the twig, closely spaced
• Covered with a single scale
• No true terminal bud; end bud originates as a lateral bud
• Flower buds larger than leaf buds
• Leaf scars V-shaped, with 3 vein scars
• Stipule scars on either side

Colour

• Reddish-brown

Twigs

Form

• Hairy in spring, becoming smooth

Colour

• Reddish-brown to yellowish-green

Flowers

Form

• Catkins erect, on short shoots

Structure

• Dioecious

Fruits

Form

• Capsules smooth, long-pointed

Colour

• Reddish-brown

Size

Height

• To 6 m

Range

Nova Scotia to Yukon and south into the United States