Pussy willows grow quite fast and will spread quickly, achieving heights as much as 25 feet for some species. Simply sticking a pussy willow branch into the soil will produce a fully developed adult plant in a matter of a few months. Planting is generally done in the spring, but it will succeed during the summer, as well. Willows in general are rather weak and brittle plants, so keeping them well pruned can prevent damage from ice and snow. Pussy willows are dioecious, with the male pussy willow trees producing attractive white catkins earlier than the dull greenish catkins produced by female trees The catkins of male plants yield numerous tiny flowers full of pollen later in spring, and when the blooms reach this point, they are no longer considered decorative for floral cuttings. The female catkins bear flowers of their own that receive the males’ pollen via flies and bees. On both genders, the oval leaves come out after the catkins, at which point the plant becomes a typical willow shrub, with dull green, lance-shaped leaves.
Light
Pussy willows do best in full sun, but they will tolerate some shade.
Soil
This plant likes loamy, moist, rich soil. It wants to be kept wet. It will tolerate poorly-drained soil, but performance is best if the soil is well-drained but kept constantly moist.
Water
These plants love moisture. They thrive along banks of streams in the wild and are useful for controlling soil erosion. You will need to ensure they have plenty of water and are not subjected to drought conditions. In dense, water-retentive soil, about 1 inch of rain/irrigation per week is usually sufficient, but in porous soil, your pussy willow may require more frequent watering. The goal is to keep the soil constantly damp.
Temperature and Humidity
Pussy willows grow best in temperate conditions with cold winters, as is typical in the Northern United States and Canada (zones 4 and 5) They grow slower in warmer climates (zones 6 to 8). Pussy willows readily tolerate high humidity.
Fertilizer
Pussy willows can do well when fed with just compost or leaf mold. You can fertilize them once in the fall with a balanced fertilizer after the plant is more than one year old. Use 1/2 pound of fertilizer for every 1/2 inch of base-trunk diameter, spread 18 inches beyond the drip line of the branches. Don’t let the fertilizer come into contact with the trunk of the plant.
Types of Pussy Willow
Salix discolor is the North American native plant to which the name pussy willow is most often applied. However, several other Salix species also may carry same common name:
Salix caprea: This Eurasian pussy willow is also called goat willow.Salix caprea pendula: This is the weeping pussy willow that grows like a ground cover rather than an upright bush.Salix cinerea: Native to Europe and western Asia, this plant has a reputation for invasiveness. It has naturalized in wetlands across the Eastern United States but should be avoided as a landscape plant.
Pruning
Pruning promotes new branches that have plenty of room to grow without touching each other and results in larger catkins. The goal is to increase the size of the shrubs laterally while restricting their upward growth. Pruning also helps prevent disease, fungus, and insect problems. A rounded shape is preferable for pussy willow shrubs. Should you decide that the plant has become too untidy and you’d like to start from scratch, this plant responds well to drastic pruning. You can prune it right down to the ground, and it will still come up again—with a more pleasing rounded shape. Harvesting catkin branches for decorative use is usually done in late winter or early spring, but winter is an excellent time for major pruning, taking advantage of their dormancy. An annual pruning routine for pussy willows follows this sequence: Practiced every year over a period of three years, this pruning process will remove all the old growth of the shrub, keeping it fresh and vibrant.
Propagating Pussy Willows
When you want to create new plants, pussy willows can be propagated through stem cuttings or by collecting and planting seeds. However, the stem cutting method is so easy that it is it by far the most popular approach. For example, simply planting a row of stem cuttings in a line can quickly establish a living fence. Here’s how to use the stem cutting method: If you do not wish to wait until summer, bring your pussy willow cuttings inside and root them in water; transplant outside when the danger of frost is past.
How to Grow Pussy Willows from Seed
Pussy willows are so easy to propagate from stem cuttings that seed propagation is not very common, except among serious enthusiasts. But it is fairly easy to grow the plants from seeds by collecting the seeds from the catkins at the point when they look the most cottony. Immediately sow the seeds in a small container on the surface of the potting mix with the silky seed hairs still attached. Keep the container soil moist until the seeds germinate and sprout, then continue growing them until strong seedlings develop, at which time the new plants can be transplanted into the landscape.
How to Grow Pussy Willows in Pots
Growing willow in pots is entirely possible, but it is usually reserved for young plants, as they tend to get overgrown and root-bound with age. Use any ordinary commercial potting mix in a large pot (any material) with good drainage. Potted pussy willows are normally grown outdoors year-round—they don’t make good permanent houseplants. In winter, potted pussy willows, like most perennial plants grown in pots—are best moved to a sheltered location. These fast-growing plants will fill their pot fairly quickly, so repotting every couple of years will likely be necessary. When repotting, use a container at least twice as wide as the previous pot. It’s best to divide the rootball, if possible. Pussy willows growing in pots will need more frequent watering than in-ground plants. With this moisture-loving plant, this means daily watering.
Overwintering
No special overwintering techniques are required for this plant, though it is recommended to make sure the plant is kept well-watered in late fall until the ground freezes hard.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
Pussy willow is prone to a wide number of disease and pest problems, though it is such a vigorous shrub that it survives most any threat without much intervention, other than pruning away damaged branches. Common diseases include powdery mildew, leaf spots, gray scab, and cankers. Affected branches (or entire plants) should be pruned out. Insect pests include aphids, scale, borers, lacebugs, and caterpillars; when infestations are severe, pesticides can be used.
How to Preserve Pussy Willow Branches
Little needs to be done to ensure that willows form bloom clusters (catkins). The trick is really clipping the harvested branches at the right time and preserving them in a manner that’s most useful for decorative arrangements. Preserving pussy willow branches entails depriving them of water at the right time. If you pick the pussy willows then bring them inside and keep them in water for weeks, they’ll “go by” (flower out and lose their beauty), so you want to avoid that. Another method is to harvest the branches before the catkins open. In late winter or early spring (depending on where you live) you can pick branches with catkins that haven’t fully opened yet and force them to open inside. To do so: After successfully forcing the catkins open, you can then remove them from water and preserve them for use in dried flower arrangements.
Common Problems With Pussy Willow
Pussy willows are generally fairly fast-growing, prolific plants, so there is usually no problem with harvesting enough branches for your arrangement needs. However, there are several problems that may occur with these shrubs in the landscape:
Yellowish-Green Leaves
This is your pussy willow’s way of telling you it needs more light. If it’s in a pot, it should be easy to move. If it’s planted in the ground, look upward and see if branches from other trees are blocking its sunlight; pruning surrounding trees will improve the growth of your pussy willow.
Cracking Banches
In general, willows have rather weak, brittle branches. When there’s wind or heavy icing, the branches may split or crack. You can stave off some problems by tying the branches up if there’s a big storm brewing and using a broom or brush to lessen ice and snow build-up.
Wildlife Damage
Deer, squirrels, and birds like to eat the branches of pussy willows. If you don’t want your pussy willows damaged, you’ll have to protect them with chicken wire or some other fencing.
