Pussy willow (Salix caprea) is such a pretty little thing. In late winter she pulls out her furs and parades around in them, leaving everyone cooing in her wake. After a while, though, she grows a little weary of staying all wrapped up, and so she pops out into bright yellow flowers, just to grab your attention all over again.
The best display of pussy willow that I’ve seen of late is at Wisley gardens in Surrey, where the clever lot at the RHS have coppiced the bushes so that there is a thicket of wands covered in those delightful little furry buds. The stems themselves are perfect for making hurdle fences to edge veg plots, or willow obelisks.
Vital stats:
Location:
Moist soils. Light:
Full sun When to plant:
Autumn What can I expect from this plant? Height: 2 metres
Spread: 2 metres
Flowers: February – March