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Botanical Description

with rooting stems and branches above the ground up to 10cm Leaves largely on the lateral shoots, narrowly elliptic to obovate 10-20 X 2-5mm, apex acute, base cuneate, margins entire, both surfaces light green, nervation pronounced on the underside. Catkins produced slightly before the leaves, erect on short lateral shoots, cylindrical up to 3cm long, anthers red, filaments pink, scales dark brown. Mountains of north-western North America, notably Mt. Rainier and the Cascade Mountains, in alpine turf and screes, above 2500m. The male form, with bright catkins arising vertically at ground level is a handsome, slow growing plant requiring plenty of moisture for successful cultivation.