Plant Finder

Other Names:  Hoary Willow

Description:

Small narrow leaves similar to rosemary give this plant its common name; the delicate texture of the silvery leaves make this plant a truly interesting garden accent or tall hedge, good for tough locations

Ornamental Features

Rosemary Willow features delicate panicles of silver catkins along the branches in early spring before the leaves. It has attractive dark green foliage with silver undersides which emerges grayish green in spring. The fuzzy narrow leaves are highly ornamental but do not develop any appreciable fall color. The smooth bark and brick red branches add an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Landscape Attributes

Rosemary Willow is an open multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which can make it a great accent feature on this basis alone.

This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Spreading

Rosemary Willow is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use
• Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens

Planting & Growing

Rosemary Willow will grow to be about 15 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 feet. It tends to be a little leggy, with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It is quite adaptable, prefering to grow in average to wet conditions, and will even tolerate some standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This species is not originally from North America.