What Are The Different Types Of Pussy Willow Trees?


The not so demanding pussy willow varieties

Types Of Pussy Willow Trees

Christine Rose Photography/AL Hedderly/Federica Grassi/mikroman6/gettyimages

 

Pussy willow is the name for several smaller species from the Salix genus Willow species. They include the shrubs from the phase when the furry catkins sprout in early spring.  Famous for its long branches, the Pussy willow varieties yield gray and fuzzy catkins that are flower clusters from willow shrubs. They are dioecious catkins, implying that they can be male or female.

 

Most pussy willow trees are native to North America, but they also include the two European species, S.cinerea and S. caprea. All pussy willows thrive in moisture-rich and wetland areas. They bloom in spring. Its male catkins are gray, while its female counterparts are less furry, green, and smaller.

 

If not pruned, they can grow as tall as thirty-six feet. They are easy to propagate. Hence, they are a prevalent choice for home gardeners. There are different types of pussy willow trees. This guide will address all the top varieties one by one.

 
In This Article

 

How Many Types of Pussy Willows Are There?

There are multiple varieties of pussy willows with tiny little variations. Below we will address the most common major ones.

 

1. American Pussy Willow or Weeping Pussy Willow (Salix discolor)

 
The glaucous willow or the American pussy willow is prevalent in North America. It is one of the most popular types of pussy willow trees with bluish-green foliage. The plant is native to Canadian wetlands from Newfoundland to British Columbia east, northern forests, and Alaska.

 

Beyond this, it is also common in the Northern portion of the US in Maryland, Maine, and Idaho. It is a small tree that grows twenty feet tall and is a weak-wooded deciduous shrub with brown shoots. They produce catkins in the late winter to early springtime.

 

A prevalent lawn tree, the Weeping Pussy Willow is a medium to a large deciduous tree with a stout trunk and a graceful crown on the top that droops towards the bottom. During summer and spring, these pussy willow trees yield finely-toothed, lanceolate, narrow leaves that are light green on the top and grayish-green underneath.

 

As the fall approaches, the leaves turn greenish yellow and finally drop to the ground, depicting the magnificent silhouette of the tree.

 

It is a dioecious variety and has male and female flowers appearing in its green, delicate catkin on separate trees. The weeping willow grows between thirty and fifty feet.

 

2. Goat Willow (Salix caprea)

Goat Willow
 
It is one of the small pussy willow varieties. Native to Western Asia and Europe, these deciduous large shrubs or trees can be excellent plants for the moist soils in North America’s cooler climates. It does not have long leaves but oval-shaped and thin leaflets. Its pink-gray, soft catkins show in the early spring on the male plants, which turn yellow when pollen drops.

 

Their female catkins have green and long catkins. Typically harvested for decorative use, these branches are amongst the first to show in spring. Goat Willow is one of the most low-maintenance varieties that are easy to grow and can withstand heavy pruning. Butterflies and bees are attracted to them in large numbers.

 

3. Yellow Willow (Salix lutea)

 
These native pussy willow varieties extensively grow in Central, Southern, and Northern California. It is a moderately-lived and fast-growing plant that grows upright to at least sixteen feet. The plant showcases an active growth between summer and spring, wherein it yields yellow flowers, majorly in the wet and moist habitat types like gullies, meadows, and riverbanks.

 

Its deciduous leaves are light-green, and the plant grows around wet meadows and stream edges at elevations from 5000-9500 feet. It is a prevalent food source for animals like elk, moose, and beavers, and the songbirds employ them as a hiding cover or for nesting.

 

4. Purple Osier Willow (Salix purpurea)

Purple Osier Willow
 

Purple Osier Willow, or the Purple Willow, is a small tree or a deciduous shrub with a rounding but upright habit with arching purplish young stems that become gray with age. The plant has two-four inches long, blue-green, finely textured, and long leaves with a silver-blue underside. It has densely arranged leaves and thin stems.

 

These fast-growing types of pussy willow trees are very cold and hardy, employed as an informal hedge, specimen in group planting, or as a deciduous screen. The plant has a suckering habit, which helps prevent soil erosion. Many even use the stems from the tree for weaving baskets.

 

5. Gray Willow (Salix Cinerea)

Gray Willow
 
These pussy willow species are small trees that can grow to thirty-three feet and is much like the Goat Willow. It typically branches from the base but can form a single trunk with a flattened, broad, and rounded crown. It has a gray-brown bark that fissures with age. There is more that you can learn about the ageing and lifespan of willow trees here.

 

It has shiny leaves on the upper surface with gray, soft hair underneath. The leaves are broadly oblanceolate or obovate, and the flowers are cylindrical catkins that bloom in spring.

 

These pussy willow varieties have female catkins that are narrower and longer than male catkins. It has two-valved small capsule-shaped fruits that are filled with tiny seeds. Native to Western Asia and Europe, you will spot these varieties in damp areas near streams, rivers, and canals.

 

Growing Pussy Willows

Out of the different types of willow trees, Pussy Willows root easily. So, to grow them, bury the twelve-inch cut end of the fresh cutting approximately two inches deep into the ground. For proper growth, leave some nodes uncovered by soil. You will find the stems well-rooted into the soil in only a few weeks.

 

If you wish to plant pussy willow species inside your home, add water to the indoor pussy willow cuttings, and you will see the branches sprouting the roots. When the roots appear and are abundant, you can insert them into the pot with clean and rich soil with some good potting mix like peat. Ensure that the soil is moist but not muddy or wet. As soon as the danger of the frost ceases, you can move the plant outside.

 

How To Care For Pussy Willow?

Pussy Willow is a water-loving plant. So, one primary prerequisite for caring for the pussy willow is to ensure that the plant receives plenty of water. Beyond that, below are tips for growing and caring for the different types of pussy willow trees.

 

1. Light: These varieties love the sun but can tolerate partial shade, too, especially in warmer regions.

 

2. Water: The Pussy willow enjoys moist but not soggy soil. They can be drought-tolerant for a while, but not watering enough can stunt the plant’s growth. If you cannot decide your plant’s watering schedule, consider watering it whenever the top soil feels dry.

 

3. Humidity: Pussy Willows are tolerant to high humidity.

 

4. Soil: Pussy willows go easy with the soil. They do not have much specificity to cater to as long as the soil is fertile. You can add peat moss or compost to the soil to make it better.

 

 
Since pussy willow varieties have wide-spreading roots, avoid clay-like soil. It can intervene with their growth. Ideally, you must opt for fertile, rich soil full of organic water, capable of holding water. The shrubs grow ok in sandy soil. However, they can do better in nourished soil conditions.

 

5. Fertilizer: In a pot, you must fertilize the plant. So, you can opt for a granular or balanced liquid fertilization to cater to the plant’s nutritional needs. On the contrary, if you plant in the ground, there is no need to fertilize your pussy willows.

 

6. Temperature: These plants thrive in temperate conditions with cold winters like in Canada or Northern United States (USDA zones four through five). However, they have relatively slower growth in USDA zones six through 8.

 

Pussy willow branches are famous for their aesthetic value. The presence of several buds in the Pussy Willow adds to its beauty. They are also a part of the Chinese New Year traditions where they signify new beginnings with abundance and prosperity.

 
Final Word

So, these are the top pussy willow species. All of these are easy to grow and care for – not very demanding! Depending on the available space, soil, and temperature conditions, you can make your selection and plant a pussy willow for your landscape.