Salix discolor is typically found growing in moist to wet soils in meadows, swamps and along lakes and streams, but also will be found in some drier conditions. This is a dioecious species (male and female catkins appearing on separate trees) that is most often seen as a large multi-stemmed shrub to 6-15’ tall, but is less frequently found as a small tree to 30’ tall. Before the foliage emerges in late winter (March in St. Louis), male trees produce a showy display of catkins (1-1.5” long) that are pearl gray and silky. Female trees produce smaller, less attractive, greenish catkins. Male pussy willows are noted for producing ornamentally attractive silky pearl gray catkins on leafless stems in late winter to early spring. These catkins purportedly resemble the pads on a cat’s paw, hence the common name.
Larval Host for the
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
6-15'
4-12'
SIZE
SOIL
Medium, Moist, Well-Drained, Wet
LIGHT
Full Sun
BENEFITS
Bees, Birds
NOTES
Thrives in moist soils, but tolerates somewhat drier soils better than most other willows. Intolerant of dry soils. Branches may be damaged by ice and snow. Make sure to purchase a male plant which will produce the showy late winter catkins. Early food source for bees!
CHARACTERISTICS
Good Cut Flower, Showy, Winter Interest, Early Spring Bloomer
February, March
Shrub
This
flowers in
Pussy Willow
Salix Discolor
DETAIL VIEW
DESCRIPTION
Salix discolor is typically found growing in moist to wet soils in meadows, swamps and along lakes and streams, but also will be found in some drier conditions. This is a dioecious species (male and female catkins appearing on separate trees) that is most often seen as a large multi-stemmed shrub to 6-15’ tall, but is less frequently found as a small tree to 30’ tall. Before the foliage emerges in late winter (March in St. Louis), male trees produce a showy display of catkins (1-1.5” long) that are pearl gray and silky. Female trees produce smaller, less attractive, greenish catkins. Male pussy willows are noted for producing ornamentally attractive silky pearl gray catkins on leafless stems in late winter to early spring. These catkins purportedly resemble the pads on a cat’s paw, hence the common name.