Rosemary-leaved Willow

Salix rosmarinifolia

Rosemary-leaved Willow is a lovely shrub with long, narrow leaves that look like rosemary. It grows near water and provides shade for little animals and birds.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Rosemary-leaved Willow is a slender shrub or small tree, notable for its narrow, grey-green leaves that strongly resemble rosemary. Its branches are often reddish-brown, and in early spring, it produces fuzzy, silvery-yellow catkins before the leaves fully emerge.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderMalpighialesFamilySalicaceaeGenusSalix

Rosemary-leaved Willow

Interesting facts

Its narrow leaves surprisingly smell just like the herb rosemary!

This willow can grow in very wet places where many other plants drown!

Tiny fuzzy 'catkins' are this plant's flowers, appearing before its leaves!

Willow bark has been used for centuries as a natural pain reliever!

Special abilities

Rosemary-leaved Willow can thrive in wet, boggy soils thanks to specialized roots that tolerate saturated conditions.

This willow has a strong, spreading root system that helps prevent soil erosion along riverbanks and wetlands.

Rosemary-leaved Willow has early-blooming fuzzy catkins that provide vital pollen and nectar for awakening insects.

Measurements & details

Height: 100-300 cm
Spread: 100-200 cm
Flower Size: 1-3 cm
Bloom Season: Spring
Edible: No
Toxicity: None
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Buff-tailed Bumblebee

Bombus terrestris

Collects early spring pollen and nectar.

eaten by

Roe Deer

Capreolus capreolus

Browses on the plant's young shoots and leaves.

eats

Poplar Leaf Beetle

Chrysomela populi

Its larvae and adults feed on willow foliage.

shelters

Mallard

Anas platyrhynchos

Uses dense willow thickets for nesting and cover.

Traits

Aromatic

Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators.

Deciduous

Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.

Flowering

Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.

Shade Tolerant

Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.

Shrub

A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.

Spring Blooming

Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.

Fragrant Flower

Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.