Cutting Pussy Willow Branches
Like many of you, every year I eagerly await those first signs of spring. Among them, the furry catkins of pussy willows.
Recently, my gardeners cut bunches of pussy willows from a grove I planted along the wetlands behind my main greenhouse. These deciduous shrubs, Salix, naturally grow up to 20-feet tall, or even more if left unpruned. They are very easy to multiply and make wonderful cut arrangements. We always collect a good number of long, straight branches to make large, dramatic displays for my home.
Enjoy these photos.
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- Pussy willows grow in almost any kind of moist to wet soil near meadows, swamps and streams. And they thrive best in full sun. Around this time every year, my gardeners head down to the pussy willow grove to cut branches for my spring arrangements.
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- My pussy willows are located in a field behind my greenhouse, where there is lots of room for them to grow and flourish. Willows are known to have invasive roots, so they need to be planted away from septic tanks, sewers, and water lines.
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- Pussy willow is a common name given to many smaller species of the genus, Salix, when their furry, velvety catkins are young. Salix discolor is the American pussy willow.
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- Pussy willow trunks can be either single or clustered with flexible branches and branchlets.
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- Pruning regularly makes the most attractive part of the branches easier to reach when cutting.
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- These pussy willows have grown so well in this location. They can grow up to 24-inches per year if well maintained.
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- Pussy willow is common throughout the southern half of Canada and the north-central and northeastern portions of the United States.
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- Whenever we pick pussy willow branches, my gardeners know to cut the longest, straightest ones – at least four-feet – and filled with catkins.
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- Some pussy willows have very large, furry catkins.
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- While other pussy willow varieties have smaller catkins.
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- Some branches are also interestingly shaped. This unusual willow is Salix udensis ‘Sekka’, or Fantail Willow. It has a unique, flattened form, rich color, and small catkins.
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- These are Purple Heirloom pussy willows. This unique variety of pussy willow has attractive blonde bark, thin grassy stems, and lots of small dark purple catkins.
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- Once the best pussy willow branches are cut, they’re gathered and brought to my carport until I make the arrangements. I like to do this in time for Easter.
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- Pussy willows root so easily that stems of almost any size can simply be stuck into a vase of water, where they will form roots in just a few weeks.
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- Once the roots form, pussy willows can then be potted into liner pots with moist soil for a few more weeks while their roots develop.
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- One can also plant cuttings directly into the ground in the spring, where they should eventually root.
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- Look at all we cut from the grove this year. We placed the branches upright in these empty antique planters gifted to me by Carmine Lupino. Cutting branches for indoor displays is an excellent use of these pussy willow catkins. I will be sure to share photos of these once they are arranged for the holiday.
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