Salix serissima
serissima = latest
Autumn Willow
Although this is reported to occur in Vermont, it hasn't been found here in the wild for many years. So now it is here—out of state friends graciously shared cuttings with us and it turns out that what have flowered are female. We hoped for both so we could establish a colony on our property!
This shrub can grow to 12ft and has branchlets that are green at first, turn olive-brown, then reddish in late summer-early fall. Leaves are large shiny, rich green with serrated edges and short-pointed (not long pointed as fellow native S. lucida). At the base of each leaf where it meets the petiole glands are situated. At the base of the leaf where it meets the stem stipules may be present or absent. Flowers appear with the leaves in spring and the fertilized female catkins remain green and do not open until autumn—hence it's colloquial name. This habit has caused some confusion as it was thought by some to be a fall flowering Willow! Flower buds appear in late summer, green at first, they gradually turn red; they are flattened at the pointed tip. Female catkins are 1–2in long and although we have not seen a male flower, they are about the same size.
USES: as an ornamental shrub with it's very attractive shiny leaves and curious flower habits.
NATIVE
Distribution of Salix serissima in the US
Map used by permission of Dr John Kartesz & BONAP
COLOR CODE
Present in County
Present in State
Present but rare
A fully ripe female catkin with ovaries ready to open like those behind it. Late August.
Fully open ovaries with masses of fluff that holds the seed ready to blow away in a strong wind. The seeds are short-lived and need to land on a moist substrate in sun!
Stems with and without stipules; at right, serrated edges of the leaves are clearly visible.
Mid September.
In late September, the flower buds are clearly visible and stipules are present.
Look carefully at the upper part of the petiole and you will see spiky glands.
Reddish stems in this particular plant.
The leaves in the background at top-right are those of S. lucida with long-tapered leaf tips.
Green stems on these shoots. This has lots to do with the amount of sun they receive.
Late August.
All photographs were taken in the nursery.
On May 4th, 2017 our first flower appeared on a male selection in the nursery that I collected in a swamp with George Argus. It's the latest flowering of any willow in our collection.
Above and right are male catkins on their short growths, therefore these are not pussy willows.
These are older catkins than the yellow one above these two.
WillowWorld
of Michael Dodge