Salix amygdaloides

Salix amygdaloides, the almond leaf willow or peach leaf willow, is a species of willow native to central North America east of the Cascade Range.^[2] It can be found in southern Canada and the United States—from western British Columbia to Quebec, Idaho, Montana and Arizona to eastern Kentucky.^[3] As of 2022, it is presumed extirpated from the state of Kentucky.^[4]

Salix amygdaloides
Peachleaf willow leaves
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Salicaceae
Genus:	Salix
Species:	S. amygdaloides
Binomial name
Salix amygdaloides Andersson
Natural range

It is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree, growing to 4–20 metres (13–66 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, 3–13 centimetres (1+1⁄4–5 in) long and 1–4 cm (1⁄2–1+1⁄2 in) wide, yellowish green with a pale, whitish underside and a finely serrated margin. The flowers are yellow catkins, 3–8 cm (1+1⁄4–3+1⁄4 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 4–6 millimetres (3⁄16–1⁄4 in) long.^[5][6]

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 the common and scientific names suggest, the leaves bear some similarity to those of a peach and (even more so) of an almond.^[2]