Estimated Height at Pickup: 2-3’, 3 gal

A fast growing, smaller willow that bears its famous fuzzy catkins in the spring! Can be trained as an erect shrub or a small tree. Perfect to plant in ditches, along shorelines, in wetlands, floodplains, or rain gardens.Like oaks (genus Quercus) and wild cherries (genus Prunus), willows are a keystone species that provide habitat and host a wide variety of insects. This includes many flashy Lepidoptera like viceroy and mourning cloak butterflies, and luna and io moths!

Pollination: Male and female needed.

Light: Full Sun, Part Sun/Shade

Soil Moisture: Wet, Wet Mesic, Mesic

Soil Type: Loam, Sandy Loam

Height: 6’-20’ 

Width: 6’-20’ 

Bloom Color: -

Bloom Time: Mar-Apr

Fruit: Small, hairy, wind dispersed seeds mature in summer.

Fall Color: Green, Yellow

Root Type: Branching

Notable Wildlife Interactions: Pollen and florets attract mainly small bees and flies, and occasionally wasps, beetles, butterflies, and plant bugs. Hosts butterflies such as the white admiral, red spotted purple, viceroy, and mourning cloak, many moths including the luna and io, beetles, flies, plant bugs, and smaller insects. Seeds and buds are eaten by grouse and squirrels, wood turtles and snapping turtles have been observed to eat the leaves, and beaver and muskrat favor the bark and wood. Commonly browsed by deer and rabbits.

Notes: Plants should be trimmed in winter or early spring every three or so years to maintain a shrub form. Trimmings can be easily rooted by sticking them into damp ground. All catkins begin grey, but males will develop a yellowish color and females a greenish color.