Japanese Pussy Willow. I would refer to this plant as "Giant Pussy Willow" because it is so much more robust than the more familiar S. caprea. The name of this selection which was formerly classified as Salix chaenomeloides, has now been determined to be a natural hybrid in Japan between S. gracilistyla and S. caprea. So if you have previously purchased Salix chaenomeloides, this is the same plant. The stems are a shiny burgundy with bright red flower buds and the male catkins are incredible, up to 3" long. The ultimate size of this plant may be 15-20' with an equal spread, so give it plenty of room. I really think that there would be a good cut-flower market for this plant, as it can be cut dormant in the winter and held in refrigeration until the stems are needed.
Zones 4-8
