About Salix nivalis Hook.
Salix reticulata is a dwarf, prostrate, deciduous shrub. It reaches 8 cm (3 in) in height and 30 cm (12 in) in width, forming loose open mats with extensive, much-branched underground stems. Exposed stems can grow up to 20 cm (7.9 in) tall. New twigs are slightly hairy, and become hairless and dark reddish-brown as they mature. Leaves measure 1.2 cm to 5 cm long and 1 cm to 3.5 cm wide. They are densely hairy when new, and become hairless at least on the upper surface as they develop, with a conspicuous network of veins. In spring, slender yellow catkins with pink tips emerge. Salix reticulata is cultivated as an ornamental plant used for groundcover, and has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
