John&Jacq~s Garden

Salix discolor with its many buds make it a favourite flower for Lunar New Year

Salix discolor (American Pussy Willow, American Willow, Large Pussy Willow, Pussy Willow, Glaucous Willow)

American Pussy Willow or Glaucous Willow prefers moist to wet soils.

Thus, it is common to find this shrub in wet ditches, meadows, swamps, marshes and along the banks of streams and lakes.

It is extremely popular for the catkins that open and present soft silvery colored hair resembling the pads on the paw of a pussy cat.

Plant Profile, Culture and Propagation :

• Botanical Name: Salix discolor (syn.: Salix schraderiana, Salix weigeliana).
• Common Names: American Pussy Willow, American Willow, Large Pussy Willow, Pussy Willow, Glaucous Willow.
• Family Name: Salicaceae.
• Etymology:The genus name, Salix is the Latin name for the plant.
  The specific epithet discolor, refers to the two different colours of the catkins, where males are yellowish and females are greenish.
• Origin: Native to Northern America.
  It widely cultivated elsewhere around the world.
• Plant type: An ornamental and deciduous shrub or small tree.
• Features: Salix discolor is from the genus Salix that consists of about 450 species of plants.
  It is a weak-wooded short-lived but fast-growing shrub or small tree reaching a height fo 30-50 cm with brown shoots.
  It usually develop into a large shrub but may grow as a multi branched tree up to 4 m tall.
  Its trunk with brown bark is woody, single or multiple.
  Mature bark is smooth initially but becomes split and shallowly furrowed or scaly with age.
  Branches are glabrous, brown-reddish or chestnut.
  The petiolate leaves with serrated margins are narrowly elliptic to egg-shaped, 5-8 cm long and 2-3 cm wide.
  The leaves that are alternately arranged along the stem are coloured green above and downy grey-white beneath.
  The unisexual flowers are white, soft silky silvery catkins, borne before the new leaves appear, with the male and female catkins on different plants.
  They reach 3 x 1 cm on long peduncles with lanceolate bracts.
  Flowers occur in silky dense catkins which are the best known pussy willow feature.
  Mature fruiting female catkins are typically 2-12 cm long.
  Mature fruiting male catkins are 1-5 cm long.
  Fruit is a small capsule, measuring between 7-12 mm long.
  Its fruit contains numerous minute seeds that are embedded in cottony down.
  Mature seed is velvety and furry.

• Culture (Care): Salix bicolor or American Pussy Willow can be easily grown with least maintenance.
  Light: Best in full sun though tolerate semi-shade as well if required.
  Moisture: High water requirements.
  Soil: Fertile, loamy and well-drained soils. Thrives in moist soils but tolerates somewhat drier soils.
  Others: If pruned to the ground every 3-5 years, it is possible to maintain a smaller overall shape. If cut back more frequently, it can be created as hedges.
  Avoid areas that are subject to heavy wind as this plant is relatively soft-wooded and does not stand up to high winds well.
  Generally free from serious garden pests and diseases.
  Nonetheless, watch out for leaf blight, leaf spots and powdery mildew as well as gray scab and cankers.
  Pests that attack this shrub include aphids, borers, caterpillars and lace bugs.
  For subtropical and temperate regions: Hardiness: USDA Zone 4-8.
  Flowers of Salix bicolor or American Pussy Willow that bloom in late winter or early spring require cool temperature to flower. Prune as needed in late winter to early spring.
  Plants may be cut to the ground every 3-5 years to maintain a smaller shrub shape. Branches may be damaged by ice and snow. Litter from leaves, twigs and branches may be a problem. Shallow roots may clog sewers or drains and make gardening underneath the plants difficult. Protect the plant from heavy wind as it is relatively soft-wooded and does not stand up to high winds well. Stems with catkins may be cut in spring for indoor arrangements.

• Propagation: Easily propagated via seeds and stem cuttings.

• Usage: Salix bicolor or Glaucous Willow is popularly grown for its ornamental flowers and stems.
  It is a favourite flower for the Lunar New Year where the stalks with the catkins are coloured in various shades to make it more attractive. An ideal ornamental plant for the garden which can be coppiced yearly to keep it small. Its flowers are excellent for cut or dried flowers and twigs with immature catkins are used in floral arrangements. Cut stems of the pussy willows with their trademark pearly gray colored catkins that are prized for use in floral arrangements. Once cut they can be kept for long periods of time. Ideal for container planting. Pussy willows are known to be favoured by Viceroy butterflies which makes them an attractive addition to a butterfly garden. Like other willows, it contains salicin and was used by native Americans as a painkiller.

Other External links:

• Wikipedia
• National Parks of Singapore – Flora&FaunaWeb
• Missouri Botanical Garden
• Dave’s Garden

Tags: butterfly plants, deciduous, flowering plants, green, medicinal, ornamental, outdoor plants, shrubs, trees, tropical plants, white