Narrowleaf Willow is a shrub to small tree, widespread in North America. It forms dense thickets on riverbanks and ditches, used as erosion control on waters edge, for naturalized, or ornamental planting. Leaves are long and narrow (lanceolate), producing silky white male or female catkins in late spring. Male catkin shrubs are pollinated by to bees and the plant is often browsed by livestock. Flexible branches were used for building, basket making and for cord by Native Americans.