Pussywillows

Anyone here grow them?

I have such fond childhood memories of them, & while at Wal-Mart this morning saw they had HUGE 10-15 gallon containers of 5'-tall beauties just covered with those little furry pussy-toes.

They're a harbinger of spring. I love the few Salix I have. We had some sort of a Pussywillow growing by our home when I was a kid. I recall trying to be artsy/craftsy by making flower arrangements with the branches. I didn't do that well but I sure thought my "creations" were beautiful back then.

I do remember how easily they sprouted roots when I used them in flower arrangements as a child. Leaves & roots seemed to grow like magic after just a week or so.

Hey Breezy, I can't remember if any of mine sprouted back then. That was well over 40 years ago. I do recall the leaves sprouting just the way you desribed though.

The leaves & roots sprouted at the same time, but the roots weren't always as noticeable or prolific as the leaves. I do remember a friend planting some of hers that sprouted in a vase, & they did, amazingly, grow into trees.

I grow several species of pussywillows:
Salix:
chaenomeloides
c. 'Mount Asama'
cinereria 'Variegata'
gracilistylis
g. 'Melanostachys'
koriyangi 'Rubykins'
repens
schraderiana

And then there is the non-pussying ones,(and stop laughing!):
babylonica 'Annularis'
eleagnos
lindleyana(no catkins at least for me)
x 'Scarcuzam'
and am trying:
magnifica
fargesii

Hmmm . . must be missing some. Anyway, chaenomeloides is the first to bloom. Schraderiana is the last. Willows are always nice since they are food sources for several species of butterfly caterpillers.

I understand that there's one that produces pink catkins. Anyone grow that variety?

And forgive me Leftykins if that's one of the varieties you mention above.

Leftykins? I love it!

Now where did I get that from? I must have brought the "kins" over from someone on another thread!!! Sorry, Leftwood - it's been a long day, & it's not even close to being over for me yet - lol!!!!

Who knows where you got it from. I know him from a fruiting tree club and he'll just laugh when he sees it because he's easy going and an overall good sport.

I really must be numb from the cold. Just got finished feeding/watering the horses & making sure all the outdoor water troughs are filled in case we lose power in tomorrow's predicted ice storm. Then disconnected & drained the hose so it won't freeze (hopefully). Then fed & individually walked my 4-pack of wild hounds - lol!!

Now husband just arrived home so I need to stir up some dinner.

No wonder I'm delirously putting different posters' names together - lol!!!

ah, draining hoses. Dad once told me to never buy a property without a hill, because you could always start at least one tractor. And they were perfect for draining the hoses before taking them into the basement for the night. i hope you ice storm is mild. Ken

And that's exactly what I use my hill for - draining the hose - lol!!!

Breezy, puns are my FAVORITE kind of joke! I though you had taken the "kins" from willow catkins and added it to Lefty(kins).

Mistake or not, it was most appropriate.

And about the pink catkins, 'Rubykins' is pinky, but really more like white with a red center. Not a favorite, but it does have the smallest catkins of all that I grow. They are even small than my Salix repens. And I have a particularly miniature form. I haven't actually seen 'Mount Asama' catkins because the rabbits keep eating it down, but that one is supposed to be a dark pink. "Asama" in Japanese means fire or red or somehow is indicative of the color. EQ, can you help me out on that?

I beg to differ on 'Rubykins'. I have over 30 willow varieties for floral and basketry. 'Rubykins' is always out for me early, keeps insects and bees happy that wake up on Sunny Winter Days. Today I had mixed bunches for children etc at church. 'Rubykins' was picked out by many as intriguing and different. Very subtle and airy catkin, will get 1'' long. Good basket willow and attraciteve leaves in summer that hold up well in heat and humidity. S.discolor is what most folks call the Pink Pussy Willow but I don't think anything is really pink. S.chaenomeloides the so called rabbits foot pussy willow takes a little while for me to get going. Still exhibiting its lovely red buds and some shiny white catkins but wil be another couple of weeks before its really in bloom. Then there is S.udensis/sekka, 'fan tail willow', noted for its contorted branches its catkins when developed have lovely yellow antlers usually at about the time you can pick some daffodils. And before I really get started, I will slip of to bed. Chris.

Forest Farm has some neat ones, price is right too, specially on the "tubes".

http://www.forestfarm.com/search/search.asp?aPage=1&index=genus&field-keywords=Salix&Go.x=12&Go.y=6

Their catalog has even more choices.......it's 540 pages this year.......my favorite "curl up with a good book" book!

K

Forest farm in Oregon, is a great plant and information source. I have a more limited selection of willows, pictures and descriptions on my website: http://www.plantandgnome.com/new_page_11.htm
When I lived in Ireland with a nice soft climate, probably similar to Oregon growing anything was a cinch. In WV we get those lovely hot and humid summers which some willows have a hard time with, hence a more limited slection of proven plants that can go through it. More info on willows is available at: www.bluestem.ca/
Willows are easy to root from cuttings which prove more economical to purchase than plants. I will be going to aikido a Japanese Martial Art tonight and may report back on the name, Chris.

Well I guess that shows how different climates can affect growth. Yes, I guess I would say I was wrong about Rubykins being smaller than repens - in the full grown stage. But in the "cute" stage, I stand by my previous statement. I might also add that I have no wet areas to grow willows, just normal moisture. That too might well be significant.

It is very interesting that there is such a definite reversal in blooming succession between Rubykins and chaenomeloides, from WV to MN. I have almost a 2 week difference between them blooming also, but for me, chaenomeloides opens first.

Stay with us Chris, I can see that your input will be fascinating. Ken

Indeed, interesting difference in maturing times of catkins. I wish I had the camera working as I've bunches of them for valentines day to show the different stages that they are natural. We would also be on the same page as far as what we mean by blooming. Mine are all in perfect soil, same aspect. Willows don't need bog and its only the bloodsucker large tree forms that really do well in wet soils.
Species show a wide range of divergence which is what nurserymen look for to produce interesting 'cultivars'. Assuming we have the same plant and sometimes there are mixing up in names, the reason for the divergence is most likely species divergence. Maybe nursery A, a large propagator of woody plants received 10, 000 cuttings of S.chaenomeloides from its source in Southern Japan. Its competitor Nursery B, seeing the success that Nursery A had selling its S. chaen. rang up its freinds in Northern Japan and got 10, 000 cuttings as well. So between the divergence in geographical area and differences in local population there may be variation on catkin times, leaf size etc.
Why I like this species is it does well and is attactive in our summers, unlike the more regular S.caprea. Interestingly Dirr rates it Z. 6-8 and your in Z.4 and a bit. E-mail me at Chris@plantandgnome and we can swap some cuttings Leftwood and we can compare side to side. Chris.

I will do just that, Chris. Thanks for suggesting. I have always been very interested in genotypes and genotypic differences, and keep good provenance records of seed I gather and plants I grow when I know. With a U of M background in horticulture, I have written articles on the importance of provenance, disjunct populations and the like.

I am sure my knowledge of willows pales to yours, and maybe we'd find my S. chaenomeloides is not that at all. It certainly wouldn't be the first time a nursery sent me a mislabeled plant. So far though, all descriptions and photos I've seen (including yours) jive.

The definition of blooming did cross my mind, but as you were bringing in bouquets to church for children, etc., I assumed they were not actually flowering with pollen and all. This preflowering stage is the stage I am talking about.

You have a very nice web site too, by the way.

Rick

This thread has turned into quite an interesting treatise on Pussywillows!!! What a wealth of info. Thanks for sharing it!

After looking in the Dirr Manual where he lists it at Z 6-8 I did just double check that, and someone else lists it at Z 4. I am sure your plant is what it is even though I know all about mixed plants and name tags, you just can't get the labor these days etc. I rather think it would be the divergence in species line.
We'll hook up on a swap and if anyone else has got some interesting willows I always have a revolving door policy on them, Chris.

I checked the plant files page of the GW under pussy willow and beleive there is an error in photos and description of Salix discolor, I think the photo is actually Salix 'Sekka', FAN TAIL WILLOW.
If you are reading this forum and lost by all the other names thrown about, heres the most readily available commercial pussy willows, COMMON NAMES spelt big.
Salix caprea, GOAT or FRENCH PUSSY WILLOW, can't argue with the catkins, rather coarse small tree often used for grafting weeping varieties on. Own rooted pendula verison 'Kilmarnock' and 'Weeping Sally'
Salix discolor, native eastern US, AMERICAN, PINK.
Salix chaenomeloides, JAPANESE or RABBITS FOOT PUSSY WILLOW, aside from large catkins, hansome foliage in heat and winter interest in pronounce red buds.
Salix gracilistyla, ROSEGOLD PUSSY WILLOW, boasts pinkish catkins. var. 'Melanostachys', the BLACK PUSSY WILLOW, catkins not so profuse as other varieties but provide talking piece.

If you rescue a potted plant from a grocery stores floral department it is most likey a rooted Salix caprea.
Lots of other ones availble to cover a whole range of catkin colors the above represent the ones y'all most likley come across.
Chris.

Man, I wish MY Wal-mart would get some pussywillows in stock! I've not seen any available around San Antone and would love one!



This message was edited Jun 2, 2006 4:28 PM