Only after the catkins of the willow have withered do the first leaves unfold from the pointed, brownish buds. They are initially slightly hairy on the upper side, later smooth and dark green, lighter on the underside. They have a wide variety of shapes.
Young leaves of the willow are light green in colour
The willow (Salix caprea) is a deciduous tree that can grow up to 10 meters high and develops a relatively broad crown over the course of its life. The leaves of the willow appear after flowering. When fully grown, they are a rich green color all summer before turning yellow-brown and dropping in the fall.
description of the leaves
- Length: 5-7cm.
- Width: 2-4 cm.
- Arrangement: alternate.
- Shape: ovate or rounded-elliptical, widest in the middle.
- Margin: smooth, wavy or toothed, twisted or obtuse at the leaf tip.
- Color: Dark green on top, gray to blue-green underneath, yellow to brown in autumn.
leaf development
The young leaves of the willow have short, dense hairs on the upper side, which later fall off, revealing the smooth, dark green upper side, on which the sunken leaf veins are clearly visible. The hairs on the lighter underside of the leaf remain. The petioles are up to 10 mm long. Small stipules form at the base over time.
Detect diseases on the leaves
The brown spots on the leaves indicate fungal disease. If the shoots die off and the willow loses its leaves prematurely, action should be taken as soon as possible. To combat the infestation, cut off the affected branches at the base if possible and remove the fallen leaves from the ground. These do not belong in the compost, but in the garbage.
tips
Salweide is also called palm willow in some areas. On Palm Sunday, the cut willow branches are placed in the vase and decorated with colorful Easter eggs.