Salix discolor 'USDA Select'

American Pussy Willow

Plant Type:

DECIDUOUS SHRUBS

Salix discolor USDA Select - This fine selection of the American Pussy Willow made by the USDA exhibits several excellent traits. It displays a greater number of showy female silver-gray catkins. The early flowers, usually in March here (late February in a milder winter), are loaded with nectar making it a fine inclusion for those who keep and / or love bees. Deep red new stems darken to near black in winter. Bud sheaths are so dark to be also nearly black. Blade-shaped leaves are white-backed, slightly woolly with glossy, dark green tops. Great also for wildlife reclamation this is a native plant that should be considered by all native plant enthusiasts and definitely by bee keepers. Also, as with many pussy willows, cut branches can be forced indoors if that is your bent. Fertile, moist to even swampy soils set in plenty of sun will keep Salix discolor USDA Select content. Established pot grown shrub from cutting. Annual coppicing will generate a plethora of stems laden with even more catkins. For those interested in quantity for wildlife reclamation projects please contact us with a request for your needs and we'll see what we can do. Found naturally in a loose line from North Carolina up through Montana (plus Mississippi) north into nearly all Canadian Provinces including the Northwest Territory but not Nunavut, Yukon or points farther north.-


Please scroll down to the Genus Overview for more information.


Height:

10-20 ft

Spread:

8-12 ft

Zone:

(2)3 to 7
What is my hardiness zone?
Item Description Price  
SALDISCU Salix discolor USDA Select (5 inch Square x 6 inch Tall - true 2 quarts / 1.8927 liters) $25.00


Characteristics and Attributes for Salix discolor 'USDA Select'

Season of Interest (Flowering)

  • Late Winter / Early Spring

Season of Interest (Foliage)

  • Spring / Summer / into Autumn

Interesting Bark

  • Colored

Nature Attraction

  • Honey Bees & Native Bees

Light

  • Full Sun
  • Mostly Sunny

Attributes

  • Screen
  • Pond, Bog, Wetland
  • Shrub Border
  • Wildlife Garden
  • Hedgerow
  • Filler
  • Marginal
  • Natural Garden
  • Wetland Reclamation
  • Cutting Garden

Growth Rate in the Garden

  • Rapid

Soil

  • Fertile
  • Organic
  • Wet
  • Moist

Origins

  • Garden Origin

Propagated By

  • Cutting Grown

Genus Overview: Salix

Common Name: Willow

Salix. These are the willows, a large genus of woody plants. Some willows are small shrubs, others grow into huge trees and there are many bushy species which fall in between. All prefer sun planted in fertile moisture retaining soils; some are tolerant of quite wet feet. Many have quite attractive lanceolate leaves with silvery undersides that flash in summer breezes… I have often thought of these as the “poor man’s bamboo”. Some have contorted and beautifully colored bark which shines in the winter landscape. Many sport beautiful winter/spring catkins. Nearly all willows have utilitarian applications in fencing, rods, basket making. All are very prune-able; in fact, any of the larger shrubs depending upon how you desire to employ them will respond well to pruning and coppicing. When coppiced those with beautifully colored winter stems display many more of them. And as with ornamental shrub dogwoods younger stems exhibit the best, most intense winter tones. All ornamental characteristics will be presented according to species/cultivar. All of the following offerings are established pot grown shrubs from a cutting. We may prune back all larger growing selections prior to shipping so that you will not incur the extra handling charge.