Black Cat® Pussy Willow

Light Needs

Full Sun

(At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

10-12 Feet

Mature Spread

10-12 Feet

Growing Zones

4 to 7

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.