Primrose Willow: Identifying Characteristics
Habitat:
Primrose willow grows in shallow-water areas, such as marshy shores, wet clearings, ditches, and drainage canals.
Size/Form:
Primrose willow is a multi-stemmed, evergreen shrub that grows from 3'-12' tall. The lower portion of the plant is woody, while the upper branches are herbaceous and hairy.
Stem:
The lower, woody stems are 1" to 1½" in diameter, with smooth, brown bark that sloughs off in lengthy strips. Upper stems are covered with fuzzy tan hairs.
Leaves:
The leaves are simple, alternately arranged and lanceolate to broadly elliptical, from 2" to 6" long and 1" to 1¼ " wide, with fuzzy tan hairs above and below. The underside of leaves shows obvious venation. Leaves have wedge-shaped bases with no petiole and acute leaf tips. The margins are entire. Stems are shaggy and hairy, with petioles lacking.
Flowers:
The flowers are large, showy, bright yellow blossoms, with four, nearly rounded petals. They bloom year-round in some parts of the plant's range.
Fruit:
The fruit is an unusual, four-angled capsule, about ½" to 1" long.