Preferred common name: Crack Willow
Other common names: Brittle willow, Withy
 The RHS Crack Willow (Salix fragilis) is a deciduous, medium-sized, fast-growing hedge, with lanceolate, long-acuminate leaves; 9-15 cm long and 1.5-3 cm wide, with a finely serrated margine. They are dark shiny green above, glaucous and hairy below at first in spring, but soon become hairless.
Catkins appear with the leaves in early spring, and pollinated by insects. They are dioecious, with male and female catkins on separate hedges; Male catkins are cylindrical, 4-6 cm long and 1-1.3cm wide. They are densely flowered and uniformly yellow. Female catkins are similar in size and shape to the male though they are pale green.
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