Salix caprea, French Pussy Willows are large upright growing shrubs or multi-stemmed small trees. The large, fuzzy, silvery catkins open in late winter or very early spring. A Great plant for winter stems to force the buds to bloom for flower arrangements.

Prefers moist soils and is a good plant for wet sites.

Cute story on how the Pussy Willow got its name. According to an old Polish legend, many springtime’s ago a mother cat was crying at the bank of the river in which her kittens were drowning. The willows at the river's edge longed to help her, so they swept their long graceful branches into the waters to rescue the tiny kittens who had fallen into the river while chasing butterflies. The kittens gripped on tightly to their branches and were safely brought to shore. Each springtime since, goes the legend, the willow branches sprout tiny fur-like buds at their tips where the tiny kittens once clung.

Ships: fall and spring.

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