QUIZ

Well, if nobody wants to try I'll give you some more facts. The spent flowers of a Buddleia davidii have nothing to do with the leaves, just to compare size.
The plant in question becomes a small tree but most gardenworthy plants of the genus are small shrubs.

Hoy wrote:

Well, if nobody wants to try I'll give you some more facts. The spent flowers of a Buddleia davidii have nothing to do with the leaves, just to compare size.
The plant in question becomes a small tree but most gardenworthy plants of the genus are small shrubs.

Well, it's not from the lack of interest... I'm intrigued but also stumped!  Been thinking about it :)

Looks sort of like a Polygonum species, but those aren't usually small trees.

All I can say is it certainly doesn't grow around here (Minnesota)....

Could it be related to the Croton (Codiaeum)?

Neither Polygonum nor Croton.
Here is a Croton relative (I believe), Rick:

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The plant is native to China. The genus is known for showy male and female flowers in tight clusters on separate plants often before the plants leave out. The leaves can achieve a length of 25cm on this species, but the norm is in the opposite end of the scale.

It is a Salix. Salix magnifica.

The leaves are attractive and so are the male catkins in spring. I have only old slides of the catkins so you have to take a look at them here:
http://www.gapphotos.com/imagedetails.asp?imageno=104106
http://www.rogerstreesandshrubs.com/gallery/DisplayBlock~bid~7082~gid~~s...

Now that you say it, I do see.  But the buds are uncharacteristic to the genus, in my opinion, and I don't think I would have ever guessed it.  I've never heard of a Salix species with buds that diverge so prominently from the stem.  Darn it, and I thought I knew everything...    :rolleyes: