Scientific Name

Salix matsudana Koidz. x Salix albaL.

Family

Salicaceae

Common Names

New Zealand hybrid willow, willow

Origin

New Zealand hybrid willow (Salix matsudana x Salix alba) was developed by crossing the typical non-tortuous form of Salix matsudana, which is sometimes known as Chinese willow, with white willow (Salix alba). It was imported into Australia from New Zealand.

Naturalised Distribution

Locally naturalised in the central tablelands region of New South Wales.

Notes

New Zealand hybrid willow (Salix matsudana x Salix alba) is regarded as an emerging environmental weed in New South Wales, and as a potential environmental weed in other parts of south-eastern Australia. It is one of the willows (Salix spp.) that together as a group are regarded as a Weed of National Significance (WoNS).

This hybrid has been widely planted as a windbreak in south-eastern Australia (i.e. in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania). It has recently started to spread by seed in some rivers in New South Wales, and readily hybridises with other willows, including weeping willow (Salix babylonica), tortured willow (Salix matsudana 'Tortuosa') and white willow (Salix alba).