[2] It is a deciduous shrub growing to 1–3 m (rarely to 5 m) tall, with purple-brown to yellow-brown shoots, turning pale grey on old stems.

The flowers are small catkins 1.5-4.5 cm long, produced in early spring; they are often purple or red in colour, hence the name of the species (other willows mostly have whitish, yellow or green catkins).

[2] It is replaced further east in Asia by the closely related species Salix sinopurpurea (syn.

[8] The weeping cultivar 'Pendula' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

The wood of this and other willow species is used in making cricket bats.