A robust spreading shrub or small bushy tree to 10 metres. Bark flaking in large irregular patches, to expose a reddish brown under layer. Leaves, lanceolate, regularly and conspicuously serrate edged. Stipules often large and persistent. Catkins appearing with, or a little in advance of the leaves, erect on short leafy shoots. Male catkins narrowly cylindrical, 2.5 to 5 cm long and 0.3 to 1.2 cm wide, dense flowered, showy and fragrant, uniformly pale yellow. Female catkins usually rather shorter and denser than the male.

Either obtain confirmation from a County Recorder before submitting a record, or submit detailed images showing key features.  We recommend that you take and retain a specimen; the County Recorder may wish to see this for confirmation. (RPR)

Wet ditch banks, marshy areas.

Catkins April and May.

Deciduous.

Local and occasional, mainly south of a line from the Humber to the Severn.

Scarce in Leicestershire and Rutland. Some populations may be remnants of plant introduced into or cultvated as osier beds; its status is hard to determine.

In the Flora of Leicestershire (Primavesi and Evans 1988) it was found in 37 of the 617 tetrads, and in 6 tetrads in the Flora of Rutland (Messenger 1971).