The White Willow (Salix alba) is a medium-sized, flowering, deciduous tree in the Salicaceae family.
It is native to countries across Europe and western to central Asia.
It grows to 10-30 metres (33-98 feet) tall, with a one metre (3 feet) diameter grey-brown trunk.
Its leaves are paler than other Willow trees, with a covering of fine, silky, white hairs, mainly on the underside. The leaves are 5-10 centimetres (2-4 inches) long.
The flowers are catkins (cylindrical flower clusters) about 3-5 centimetres (1-2 inches) long, lengthening as the fruit mature.
The White Willow blooms in spring.
Photographed in the Russell Page Garden of Château de Chenonceau, Loire Valley, France, September 2021.
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
MARTINA NICOLLS – MartinaNicollsWebsite
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