Pussy Willow

Salix discolor

Plant Characteristics:

• Duration: Perennial 
• Habit: Shrub
• Size class: 12-36ft
• Native Habitat: Marshy, low ground; stream banks; ditches
• Bloom time: February-March

Growing Conditions 

• Light:
  • Sun
• Soil:
  • Moisture: Moist
  • Soil pH: Circumneutral (pH 6.8-7.2)
  • CaCO3 Tol: Medium
  • Description: Damp soils
• Water Use:
  • High
• Condition comments:
  • Short-lived and fast-growing
    • should by cut back heavily every few years to encourage lots of vigorous new growth

Benefits:

• Wildlife: Early season harvest by songbirds, waterfowl and small mammals
• Conspicuous flower
• Attracts butterflies
• Specific value to native bees, bumble bees, and honey bees

Drawbacks: 

• This plant is susceptible to insect, disease and wind damage
• tends to sucker to the point of being invasive if given continuously moist soil