Salix fargesii

Redstem or Farges willow is in the willow or Salicaceae family and is native to China. As a wide-spreading shrub, it grows up to 3 m in height.

• Leaves are simple, alternate, large, elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, to 18 cm long, 3.5-8 cm wide, above is dark green, semi-glossy with veins inset; below is dull green.
• Species is dioecious. Males are 12 cm long catkins, females are 18 cm catkins, in the spring.
• Branchlets are stout, glossy red or green, becoming glossy dark brown in their second year; winter buds are bright red, elongated , with a single bud scale, opening on one side in the spring.