Salix are deciduous shrubs and trees of diverse habit, with simple leaves and tiny flowers in catkins, male and female usually on separate plants. Some are valued for their brightly coloured winter shoots, others for their foliage or showy male catkins
S. magnifica is a medium-sized deciduous shrub of open habit, with red-brown shoots and handsome, magnolia-like dark green leaves to 20cm in length. Slender male catkins to 18cm, females to 25cm, open after the leaves in late spring