pellita

Shrub of northern beaches and riverbanks that grows from 2-18ft depending on location; the Satiny Willow is a distinctive shrub or small tree, found mainly in eastern Canada and bordering States. It takes its name from the lustrous, velvety leaves. The leaves are long, narrow and pointed, with straight, wavy, or slightly notched margins, that roll inwards. They are green above and densely silky-hairy beneath with a grayish, bluish, or whitish waxy coating on the underside. The hairs are whitish or sometimes rusty in colour–ours are pure white. In contrast, the upper surface of the leaves is glossy and hairless, or has only a sparse covering of fine hairs. The branches of the satiny willow are extremely brittle at the base and are reddish-brown or yellow-brown, with a grayish waxy or powdery coating. Flower buds appear in late summer and have reddish brown bud-scales and are pointed at the tip. Catkins appear in early Spring before the leaves and grow 1–1.5in long. The anthers (pollen sacs) appear on long white filaments (stalks) somewhat reminiscent of a pincushion! George Argus, the pre-eminent Salix taxonomist in North America, kindly shared cuttings of this truly beautiful plant with me. Can easily be confused with the non-native S. viminalis that has naturalized in some areas, but the leaves of S. pellita are shinier and whiter underneath; also the twigs of the Satiny Willow are much more brittle at the base.