Kingdom Plantae Family Salicaceae Scientific name Salix reticulata | Order Malpighiales Genus Salix Rank Species | |
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Similar Salix retusa, Salix herbacea, Salix hastata, Salix pentandra, Salix myrsinifolia | ||
Salix reticulata, the net-leaved willow, or snow willow, is a dwarf willow, native to the colder parts of Europe, North America, and Northern Asia. It is found in the western United States (Salix reticulata subsp. nivalis), including the Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountains. In Europe it extends south through the Carpathian Mountains and Alps to the Pyrenees and the mountains of Macedonia. It is common in Canada, Greenland and Finland, and present but rare in Scotland.
Contents
The plant grows on wet, often slightly calcareous, rocks and ledges.
Description
Salix reticulata is a dwarf, prostrate, deciduous shrub growing to 8 cm (3 in) tall by 30 cm (12 in) broad, forming loose open mats with extensive, much-branched, underground stems. The exposed stems can rise to 20 cm (7.9 in) high. The twigs are slightly hairy at first, then hairless and dark reddish-brown later.
Leaves are 1.2 cm to 5 cm long, 1 to 3.5 cm wide; densely hairy at first, becoming hairless at least on the upper side. The leaves have a conspicuous network of veins.
In Spring, slender yellow catkins with pink tips appear.
Cultivation
Salix reticulata is cultivated as an ornamental plant, for use as groundcover. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
