Pussy Willow

Salix caprea
Common name: Pussy willow, Goat willow

About Pussy Willow

Two species of the genus Salix are commonly called Pussy Willow: Salix discolor, native to North America, and Salix caprea, native to Europe. These large deciduous shrubs are grown primarily for the beauty of their buds, called catkins, which appear early in the spring. Hybridization of these shrubs, as well as other willow species, have resulted in cultivars with exceptionally beautiful catkins. For many gardeners, Pussy Willows are the true sign of spring!

Description

Salix discolor
This species is a large shrub, growin up to twenty feet tall. The twigs are brown or reddish-brown. The elliptically-shaped leaves are bright to dark green above and pale to white beneath.

Salix caprea
This species is a deciduous multi-stemmed shrub that can grow as tall as forty-five feet, although a height of twenty feet is more common. The leaves are two to six inches long and up to three inches wide, wider than most willows.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom - Plantae
Division - Magnoliophyta
Class - Magnoliopsida
Order - Malpighiales
Family - Salicaceae
Genus - Salix

Cultivation

All pussy willows will grow in almost any soil as long as they have enough water. They prefer full sun but will tolerate some shade. Most pussy willows are hardy from zones 4/5 to 8/9. Like all willows, they have extensive root systems, and their roots will travel a long way to find water. Never plant a willow near your water or sewer lines; it’s a recipe for disaster! Salix caprea tolerates drier conditions than other willows.

Pussy willows should be pruned severely, both to keep them at a suitable garden size and to promote larger catkins. Prune in the spring after flowering. It is possible to rejuvenate an old shrub by pruning it back to the ground.

Like other willows, they root so easily that a stem stuck into moist soil in the spring will grow roots within a few weeks. Sometimes they even root from broken branches dropped on the ground!

Salix caprea roots less readily than other willows, but can easily be propagated from greenwood cuttings. The cutting should be taken from new growth and be at least as thick as a pencil and at least one foot long. Stick it into the ground with the original vertical orientation – the top and bottom positioned as they originally grew. Make sure at least one bud is above the ground.

Pussy Willows will also root in water. A vase full of catkins may well give you new plants!

Uses

Pussy willows are grown ornamentally for their beautiful catkins. They can be grown as specimens, informal hedges, or part of a shrub border. Some gardeners grow them for cutting.

Pussy willows force easily, creating a little spring indoors in the middle of winter. Wait until several days of freezing weather have passed; then cut a few branches and bring them indoors. Put them in tepid water, and keep them in a dimly-lit place until they bloom.

Pussy willows are often preserved for use in dried flower arrangements. Just cut them after the catkins have appeared and put them in a dry vase. The catkins will dry slowly and remain beautiful for months.

Varieties to Grow

Salix fargesii - purplish-red stems, large reddish buds

Salix gracilistyla 'Melanostachys' - jet-black catkins

Salix chaenomeloides - mahogany branches, grayish catkins with a pink tinge

Salix integra 'Hakuro Nishiki' - red stems, foliage variegated cream, green, and pink

Salix caprea 'pendula' - silvery-gray catkins, weeping form, dwarf

Problems

Squirrels, rabbits, and deer all feed on pussy willow branches. Shrubs may need winter protection from these pests.