French Pussywillow

Salix caprea

You know spring is finally here when you can put your first pussy willow branches in a vase! Before leafing out, this plant produces an abundance of fat, woolly, pinkish-gray catkins about one inch long. The showy French pussywillow can be kept to shrub size by cutting it to ground every few years and letting it resprout. Unpruned it can grow to 15-25 ft tall. Will tolerate somewhat drier soils than other varieties, but still prefers regularly moist ground. Good pollen source for bee foraging in earliest spring.

USDA Zone: 4-8

Grow Height:  25′ (Standard)

Sun: Full Sun to Partial Shade

Ripening Time: March-April

Pollination: Self-Fertile