Salix amygdaloides, the peachleaf willow, is a species of willow native to southern Canada and the United States, from Quebec west to western British Columbia, southeast to eastern Kentucky, and southwest and west to Arizona and Nevada, respectively.
It is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree, growing to 4â20 m (13â66 ft) tall; besides the cottonwoods, it is the largest tree native to the prairies. It has a single trunk, or sometimes several shorter trunks. The leaves are lanceolate, 3â13 cm (1 1â4â5 in) long and 1â4 cm (1â2â1 1â2 in) wide, yellowish green with a pale, whitish underside and a finely serrated margin. The flowers are yellow catkins, 3â8 cm (1 1â4â3 1â4 in) long, produced in the spring with the leaves. The reddish-yellow fruit matures in late spring or early summer, and the individual capsules are 4â6 mm (3â16â1â4 in) long.
The peachleaf willow grows very quickly, but is short-lived.
It can be found on the northern prairies, often near streams, and accompanying cottonwoods. As both the common and scientific names suggest, the leaves bear some similarity to those of a peach or an almond (Latin, amygdalus).
