6 Things: Spring Pussy Willow

One sign of spring we eagerly await each year is the appearance of pussy willow branches covered in velvety soft catkins. A favorite for adding structure, texture, and height to our early season transitional planters and arrangements, you might find pussy willow growing in tree or shrub form in moist soil with full sun.

Below, our plant team shared 6 favorite varieties of this spring star. Before reading on, try to guess which two images are of the same variety in various phases of growth.

1.    Salix gracilistyla‘Mt. Aso’: Japanese pink pussy willow
2.    Salix gracilistylis 'Melanostachys': a common black pussy willow gone to flower
3.    Salix udensis 'Sekka': a native to northeastern Asia and eastern Siberia, commonly known as fantail willow
4.    Salix discolor: a common pussy willow native to North America
5.    Salix chaenomeloides ‘Lubbers Zwart’: a dark colored variety known as black cat
6.    Salix discolor: also a common American pussy willow like #4, this one is pictured later in the season

Photo credits: 1. Peganum 2. Kurt Bauschardt 3. Kristine Paulus 4. Terrain 5. Kristine Paulus 6. Thomas Quine