Peach-leaved Willow (also known as Almond-leaved Willow)
Kingdom: Plantae, Division: Tracheophyta, Class: Magnoliopsida, Order: Malpighiales, Family: Salicaceae, Genus: Salix, Species: Salix amygdaloides · Salicaceae (Willow and Poplar family) · Simple, deciduous
Species
Salix amygdaloides
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous
Family
Salicaceae (Willow and Poplar family)
Shape
Lanceolate to narrowly ovate with a long tapering tip
Size
Approximately 3-5 inches long and 0.5-1.5 inches wide, which is typical for adult specimens of this species
Margin
Finely serrate to denticulate with small glandular teeth
Arrangement
Alternate
Rarity
Common within its preferred riparian wetland habitats across its native geographic range
Color & Pattern
Medium to dark green on the upper surface, paler and somewhat glaucous (whitish-green) on the lower surface. The slender petioles and midribs often show a reddish or yellowish tinge.
Venation Pattern
Pinnate with a prominent raised midrib and fine net-like secondary veins
Texture & Surface
Smooth (glabrous) on both surfaces with a slightly matte finish
Description
The Peach-leaved Willow is a medium-sized tree or large shrub that often grows with multiple trunks and an irregular, open crown. Known for its slender, peach-like leaves that hang gracefully from delicate petioles, it displays drooping branches and rough, furrowed bark on mature trunks. In spring, it produces catkins alongside the emerging foliage, followed by small capsule fruits that release cottony seeds.
Key Features
Distinctively broad, peach-like lanceolate leaves with finely serrated margins, yellowish-reddish petioles, and a noticeably paler underside. Unlike many other willows, its leaves are wider in proportion to their length, resembling those of a peach tree.
Habitat
Typically found in moist soils along streams, rivers, lakeshores, and wetland margins, thriving in full sun to partial shade
Geographic Range
Native to central and western North America, stretching from southern Canada down through the central United States, often found across the Great Plains and into the Intermountain West
Condition Notes
Good condition with minor natural insect feeding scars and slight surface wear, typical of pressed field herbarium specimens
Interesting Facts
The common name comes from the striking resemblance its foliage bears to the leaves of the peach tree (Prunus persica). Like many willows, it contains natural salicin compounds, which have historically been used for pain relief.
Medicinal & Uses
Willow bark has been used for centuries in traditional herbal medicine as a natural pain reliever and anti-inflammatory, serving as the historical precursor to aspirin. The flexible branches are also used occasionally in basketry and craftwork, and the trees provide excellent soil stabilization along riverbanks.
Ecological Role
Plays a vital role in stabilizing stream banks and preventing erosion in riparian corridors. The catkins provide early-season nectar for pollinators, and the dense foliage offers critical nesting habitat and cover for various birds and small mammals.
Similar Species
Black Willow (Salix nigra), which has much narrower, linear-lanceolate leaves and darker bark. Peach-leaved willow leaves are noticeably broader and shorter by comparison.
Foraging Tips
Look near water bodies, rivers, and drainage ditches in the mid-west and western plains of North America. Search for trees featuring drooping branches and foliage that mimics a fruit tree rather than a traditional narrow-leaved willow.
Toxicity Warning
Non-toxic. However, excessive ingestion of bark extracts containing high levels of salicin can cause gastrointestinal upset in sensitive individuals.