Overview & Description

The Pussy Willow (Salix discolor) is a tall, upright native shrub or small tree celebrated for its silvery-white, furry catkins that emerge in late winter to early spring, adding a touch of charm to your garden before the glossy dark green leaves appear. The catkins, borne on male plants, are ornamentally attractive, silky, and pearl gray, often resembling the pads on a cat’s paw. The smooth grey-green to reddish-brown bark becomes beautifully furrowed with age.

Growth & Size

This variety exhibits an upright, spreading, and rounded growth habit. It is a large, vigorous, fast-growing deciduous shrub, typically reaching a mature size of about 6 to 15 feet in height with a spread of 4 to 12 feet, though it can occasionally grow up to 25-30 feet tall. It grows at a fast rate and under ideal conditions can live for 40 years or more.

Additional Notes

It blooms in early spring with showy male catkins that are excellent for cut flower arrangements. To get the silvery display, purchase a male plant. This hardy shrub thrives in full sun to part shade in medium to wet, well-drained soil, is intolerant of dry soils, and is excellent for rain gardens, naturalized areas, or waterside plantings. It provides critical early pollen and nectar for pollinators and hosts numerous butterfly and moth larvae, making it a valuable addition to wildlife gardens.