Salix discolor #2

In early spring, the delicate catkins of the Pussy Willow blossom early compared to other flowering plants. These catkins bloom prominently on bare branches before leaves emerge, serving as a crucial pollen source for native bees that emerge early in the season.

Pussy Willow trees typically grow in clustered trunks with a robust upright structure, offering ample cover and nesting spots for various bird species. This plant, which reproduces via rhizomes, forms dense thickets and is commonly found in wetlands, marsh edges, and riverbanks, thriving in moist to wet environments where other species struggle. Its blue-green leaves serve as food for the larvae of numerous butterflies and moths, such as the Mourning Cloak, Viceroy, Red Spotted Purple, and Compton Tortoiseshell.

Salix discolor, the Pussy Willow, exhibits dioecious traits, with male and female flowers produced on separate plants. While the male plants produce pollen, both sexes produce nectar. Male flowers form soft, knobby catkins often utilized in flower arrangements, while female flowers develop and open slightly later, creating their own appealing catkins.

Grows 15' tall and 12' wide if left unpruned. Trimming it back hard in late winter or early spring (coppicing) will result in more of a suckering shrub form with long straight branches. Prefers full sun and is hardy to Zone 4.