Latin for Gardeners
March’s Native Maryland Plant
Salix discolor L.
(SAL-iks DIS-kol-or)
Common Name: Pussy Willow
Pussy willows, a harbinger of spring, are not a common landscape plant - rather they are most often encountered in nature, usually wetland environments, and if spotted viewed as a pleasant surprise. Best known for providing catkins¹ for home decoration, most people now recognize their importance as a food source for bees - just as the earth is thawing and bees are emerging from their nests. Leaving the branches on the plant not only provides food for early pollinators, but also food and habitat for many other animals, as this plant is a keystone species².
Many home landscapes would be acceptable sites for this tall shrub. It requires sun and consistently wet soil; it is fast-growing and has a lifespan of 20-30 years. I planted a male Salix discolor in a wet and sunny area in my yard in 2016 and have anticipated and enjoyed its blooms each year since. The leaves emerge well after the flowers and are dark green on one side, pale grayish on the backside, the explanation for the specific epithet: discolor.
Pussy willows are also excellent for live staking, a low-cost method you can use at home or for restoration projects. Have any of you tried this method? I may attempt it next year in another area of my yard where I will also be planting other wet-loving plants. Pussy willows are dioecious, the male and female flowers are on separate plants; if you want to purchase and select the sex of your plant you should do this while they’re in bloom so you can tell the difference. The female catkins are considered less showy, mostly green and produce nectar but no pollen. Whichever you prefer, having a keystone species in your landscape will guarantee you’re supporting biodiversity in a big way.
¹ a cylindrical flower cluster, with inconspicuous or no petals, usually wind-pollinated (anemophilous) but sometimes insect-pollinated as in Salix discolor
² a species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend
Alison Milligan – MG/MN 2013
Watershed Steward Class 7, CBLP
aligmilligan@gmail.com