Salix discolor
Common name: Pussy Willow
Popular in spring for its fluffy gray and yellow catkins from where it gets its name. After that it falls out of the minds of most gardeners until it brightens agian the following year. Fortunately this willow has far more to offer those that want enjoy it beyond its flowers. The leaves have a felt-like cast to them early in the season and retain it on the undersides for the rest of the year. These leaves host a number of butterflies and moths in moist, sunny habitats. Most notably the Viceroy butterfly. In nature and in the yard Salix discolor is a bit inconsistant in form, but it usually has a few larger limbs that are then well branched. It tends to be between 8 to 15 feet tall. All of these characteristics make it awesome as an addition to any moist ground shrub border.
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Plant Details
Plant type
Large Shrub, Shrub
Soil type
Mesic (Not too Wet Not too Dry), Moist Mesic, Wet
Light exposure
Eastern Exposure / Morning Sun, Full Sun
Bloom period
Spring
Urban environment
Durable Near High Traffic Areas, Yards that Flood
Habitat
Floodplain, Wetlands
Growth form
Dence Growth Form, Shrubby/Clump, Low branched, Colonizing / Spreading
Growth rate
Fast
Flower color
Yellow
Fall color
Yellow
Size
- Mature height
- 7 Feet
- Mature width
- 10 Feet
- Max height
- 20 Feet
- Max width
- 22 Feet
Additional information
Butterfly host plant Loved by birds Pollinator hot spot Rain garden suited