# 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. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Rosemary-leaved Willow](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Salix_rosmarinifolia01.jpg&width=800) Photo: Meneerke bloem, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Salix_rosmarinifolia01.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Malpighiales - **Family:** Salicaceae - **Genus:** Salix ## 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 - **Water Whisperer:** Rosemary-leaved Willow can thrive in wet, boggy soils thanks to specialized roots that tolerate saturated conditions. - **Soil Anchor:** This willow has a strong, spreading root system that helps prevent soil erosion along riverbanks and wetlands. - **Spring Signal:** 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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/roe-deer) (*Capreolus capreolus*) — Browses on the plant's young shoots and leaves. - **Eats:** [Poplar Leaf Beetle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/poplar-leaf-beetle) (*Chrysomela populi*) — Its larvae and adults feed on willow foliage. - **Shelter:** Mallard (*Anas platyrhynchos*) — Uses dense willow thickets for nesting and cover. ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always stay on paths when exploring near plants and be gentle with nature. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Rosemary-leaved Willow? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Rosemary-leaved Willow? 100-300 cm ### How wide does Rosemary-leaved Willow spread? 100-200 cm ### How big are the flowers on Rosemary-leaved Willow? 1-3 cm ### When does Rosemary-leaved Willow bloom? Spring ### Is Rosemary-leaved Willow edible? No ### Is Rosemary-leaved Willow toxic? None ### What is Rosemary-leaved Willow's lifecycle? Perennial ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Rosemary-leaved Willow: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rosemary-leaved-willow)