Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Black Cat® Pussy Willow (Salix chaenomeloides) is a large, striking shrub that produces fuzzy catkins in early spring. These catkins start out pink and silver and mature to a deep black. These provide great early spring interest while waiting for spring flowers to bloom.
This plant provides great cut flowers, or catkins. It also holds its color nicely when dried. It’s easy to grow and works well as a screen or border. It is native to Japan, Korea, and China, as opposed to Salix discolor, which is native to North America. This pussy willow is hardy in zones 4a-7b and has an upright growth habit.
Black Cat® Pussy Willow Care
Black Cat® Pussy Willow needs to be planted in full sun. It likes moist or wet soil so it is great to plant in those wet areas in the landscape. Water as often as needed to maintain proper soil moisture. Fertilize in the early spring with a slow-release balanced fertilizer.
Because the plant blooms on old wood, it should be pruned immediately after it blooms, to get it ready to bloom the following year.
Black Cat® Pussy Willow Spacing
Black Cat® Pussy Willow is a big shrub and can grow up to 10-12 feet tall and 10-12 feet wide, so make sure you plant it somewhere that it can spread out 10-13 feet without hitting another plant or a building.
Black Cat® Pussy Willow Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 4 to 7 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Full Sun (6+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 10-12 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 10-12 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Upright
- Water Needs
- Consistently Moist
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , Purple
- Flower Description
- Purple
- Bloom Time
- Late Winter to Early Spring
- Blooms On
-
Old Wood
?
"Blooms on" tells you which stems produce flowers, which decides when it's safe to prune.
- New Wood: Flowers form on stems that grow this season. Prune in late winter or early spring without losing blooms.
- Old Wood: Flower buds form on last year's stems. Prune right after flowering. Pruning in fall or early spring removes next year's blooms.
- Both New and Old Wood: Blooms on last year's stems and again on new growth, so it flowers even after a hard winter or a mistimed pruning. Prune lightly after the first flush of blooms.
- When to Prune
- Right after flowering
- Foliage Color
- Foliage Description
- Green
- Foliage Type
- , Deciduous
- Seasonal Interest
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Black Cat® Pussy Willow
- Botanical Name
- Salix chaenomeloides 'Lubbers Zwart' USPP 27,403, Can 6,141
- Brand
- Proven Winners
- Plant Type
- Shrub
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
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We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2026 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!