A deciduous shrub or small tree which Wilson found 10 to 20 ft high; young shoots glabrous, becoming yellowish or reddish brown; winter buds slender, 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 in. long and of a similar colour. Leaves oval or obovate, broadly tapered or almost rounded at the base, abruptly pointed at the apex, finely and regularly toothed, each tooth tipped with a gland, 2 to 5 in. long, 1 to 21⁄4 in. wide, upper surface bright green, glabrous, with a yellowish midrib; lower surface yellowish green, wrinkled with veins, usually more or less silky on the midrib if only when young; stalk 1⁄4 to 5⁄8 in. long, glabrous or silky. Catkins very slender, the female up to 5 in. long; styles two, bifid; males shorter. Catkin-scales sparsely hairy or glabrous.
Native of W. Szechwan, China; discovered by the Abbé David in 1869, later by Henry; introduced by Wilson to the Arnold Arboretum in 1910 and thence to Kew in 1912. This willow is closely related to S. fargesii (q.v. for the points of difference). It is hardy, and handsome as willows go, but is not so outstanding as Farges’ willow, nor so common in gardens.