Habitat

• native to Europe and northeastern Asia
• hardy to zone 4

Habit and Form

• a small, deciduous tree
• 15' to 25' tall
• almost equal spread
• upright, erect branching
• medium-fine texture
• fast growth rate

Summer Foliage

• simple, deciduous leaves
• alternate leaf arrangement
• oblong leaf shape
• 2" to 4" long
• irregularly toothed or entire
• young leaves are pubescent
• dark green leaf color

Autumn Foliage

• yellow fall color

Flowers

• male catkins, showy
• white
• 1" to 2" long
• blooms in April

Fruit

• not ornamentally important

Bark

• yellowish-brown stems
• pubescent
• older bark is dark brown

Culture

• fast growing
• easily transplanted form containers are B&B
• prefers moist soil
• prefers to grow along water sources
• full sun
• pH adaptable

Landscape Use

• good tree for wet sites
• for open areas
• for fine texture

Liabilities

• numerous insect and disease problems.
• constant limb litter under tree
• ice and wind breakage occurs easily
• suckers
• short-lived
• canker

ID Features

• yellowish colored stems
• alternate, simple, oblong leaves that are unevenly serrated
• purplish-brown stout buds, 0.25" to 0.5" long
• flowers bottle-brush like

Propagation

• by cuttings

Cultivars/Varieties

'Pendula' (also known as 'Kilmarnock' and 'Weeping Sally') - This form is commonly sold as a grafted small tree. The branches are stiffly weeping and are most ornamental in late winter when they are dotted with catkins. If the plant is grown on its own roots, it will creep over the ground.