Golden weeping willow 'Tristis' can grow to 75’ in height. Pendulous golden branchlets hang toward the ground, giving the tree its common name. This is a dioecious tree (a male and female are needed to produce fruit). It has non-showy catkins appearing in April-May and undistinguished yellow fall color. The narrow, finely-toothed leaves are green above and white-silky beneath. It can grow in full sun to partial shade in moist, fertile soil.

Members of the genus Salix are commonly known as willows. These woody plants range in size from the imposing weeping willow tree to small shrubs. While not fussy about soil quality, they generally require moderate to wet soil moisture. In the wild, willows are commonly found near streams, rivers and ponds. In cultivation, willows are often used to control erosion in such areas. They are easily propagated from cuttings; willows root and grow quickly.

Of the estimated 350 species in the genus Salix, most are native to the cooler, temperate and sub-polar regions of Asia, Europe and North America. Cross species hybridization occurs both naturally and through human intervention, which can make taxonomic distinctions challenging. The Chicago Botanic Garden's collection contains almost 150 varieties among its more than 8,000 willows.