Salix mesnyi is a species of willow native to southern and eastern China (Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangsu, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi), Taiwan, and Vietnam. It can be found among shrubs near water growing tall.
A relatively small deciduous tree, Salix mesnyi usually grows to a height between about . The bark is grey, and the leaves are with serrated edges. The back of the leaves is also, like the bark, grey.
Salix mesnyi is a dioecious plant. Blooming in early spring, female flowers are green and male flowers are yellow. The flowers are without petals, calyx, only stamens or pistils longer than calyx-like bracts. Male flowers, catkins, are about 4âÂÂ8 cm, containing 4-7 stamens, anthers conspicuously yellow, filaments basally hairy, surrounded by yellow glands. While the female spike length of about 3âÂÂ6 cm, with bracts long ovary stalk, spindle-shaped ovary which has 6âÂÂ10 ovules, short style on the split 4 petals into a cross, ovary at the bottom of only one gland body.
Capsule is spindle type, fruit length is 7âÂÂ12 cm, seeds are fluffy.