Virginia Tech Dendrology

shining willow Salicaceae Salix lucida Muhl. symbol: SALU
Leaf: Alternate, simple, lance-shaped to narrowly elliptical, finely serrated margin, 3 to 6 inches; shiny yellow-green above, either glabrous or finely hairy below; with leafy stipules at the base of the petiole.
Flower: Species is dioecious; males and females appear as upright catkins, 2 inches long; appearing with or just after the leaves.
Fruit: A 2 3/4 inch long cluster of valve-like capsules, light brown in color containing many fine, cottony seeds, ripen in early summer.
Twig: Slender, flexible, smooth or with pubescence, yellow-brown to red-brown; buds are small, appressed and covered by a single, cap-like scale, terminal buds lacking.
Bark: Grayish brown and irregularly furrowed.
Form: Pyramidal shrubs or small trees to 25 feet tall, can reach 35 feet tall in the western part of its range.
Looks like: white willow - Goodding's willow - Lemmon's willow - black willow

Additional Range Information: Salix lucida is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database
All material © 2021 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information