Pussywillows: a Glimmer of Spring to Come

A friend has a large pussywillow bush in her garden. Most of the year, it's an ungainly thing that looks as if it might overgrow everything in sight. By late January, however, I'm paying it regular visits, hoping to find that the shiny brown, hard coverings on the catkins are splitting to reveal their soft, silky contents. Well, this week I was in luck. Yes, the pussywillows are back.

Pussywillows are members of the Salix (willow) family. According to the Digital Atlas of Virginia Flora, they're found in just one county, Augusta, where they grow in a spring marsh. For more information, see: http://vaplantatlas.org/index.php?do=plant&plant=3463&search=Search

Pussywillows make an interesting addition to the early spring garden. If you have enough space and are willing to keep these shrubs pruned to control their size. Pruning encourages lateral branching and the production of larger catkins. When to prune? After you've enjoyed the late January catkins is fine. Although this shrub produces catkins on last season's growth, they don't appear until late winter, so there's no problem.

So find a source, cut a few branches, and bring them inside to brighten your day. They really don't require artful arrangement. They just arrange themselves. Admire their textures and colors and know that spring is coming...and be prepared for the unexpected...