A gorgeous willow, truly living up to its botanical name. Discovered in China around 1900, it boasts beautiful purple leaves in early spring, swiftly followed by tall, slender catkins reaching up to a foot tall! It is easy to grow in almost any soil, and will fit into any size garden, especially if pollarded, though you may lose out on catkins for the first year after pruning. The leaves will make up for that- they are quite large for a willow, and often mistaken for magnolia leaves.
Site: Tolerates some coastal exposure Soil: Any Position: Full sun, some shade Notable uses: Ornamental, floristry, wildlife, specimen Hardiness: Hardy Height: Up to 30ft (9m) Spread: 12ft (4m)
