On 5 Mar, 18:01, Dave Hill wrote:
Saw Salix gracillistyla on TV yesterday, I can't say I've ever seen it
in the flesh.
Has anyone here grown it or has it growing?
Is it worth hunting for?
David Hill
Abacus Nurseries

Would that be S. gracilistyla 'Melanostachys'? I got a cutting a
couple of years ago, stuck it in a large pot of compost and forgot
about it. An indication of its qualities is that it is still in its
original pot, and for most of the year still forgotten about. The
catkins are, to my eyes, not nearly as impressive as in some photos I
have seen, or for that matter, in their description in Graham Stuart
Thomas's "Colour in the Winter Garden". And I don't find the foliage
very interesting either!

Other people might have different opinions...