Netleaf Willow
Salix reticulata
- Native to:
- Albania, Aleutian Is., Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Czechia-Slovakia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Labrador, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, Svalbard, Sweden, Switzerland, United States
Robert Flogaus-Faust
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Salicaceae
- Genus:
- Salix
- Species:
- Salix reticulata
- USDA Symbol:
- SARE2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Subshrub
- Height:
- 15 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade,Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul
- Ground Cover:
- Yes
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
- Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
dingy fritillary (Clossiana improba), Giant Sulphur (Colias gigantea), Titania's fritillary (Clossiana titania), 🛑Uncompahgre fritillary (Boloria acrocnema)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Fall Color:
- yellow
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rocky, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 5.0 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Common in alpine and arctic regions.
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Willow seeds are short-lived and require immediate sowing on moist substrate. Light aids germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: For seeds: Cold moist stratification for 56 days. For cuttings: Hardwood tip cuttings are collected before leaf buds break dormancy, softwood cuttings are collected when stems are fully leafed. Cuttings are 3 to 5 cm in length and 4 mm in caliper and are treated with 1000 ppm IBA.
Establishment: S. reticulata is found in subalpine and alpine zones; from Alaska to Newfoundland and south to New Mexico, Utah and California. S. reticulata ssp. nivalis occurs from southern B.C. and Alberta to California, Utah and south through the Rocky Mountains to New Mexico at high elevations in meadows, talus and scree slopes.
Source: npn.rngr.net