Identifying Pussy Willow Hybrids with Yellow-White Catkins

A 2-3 foot shrub with white cottony catkins featuring yellow stamens blooming in early spring is a hybrid pussy willow (Salix caprea or Salix discolor cultivars) — not the wild gray catkin type.

Hybrid Pussy Willow Characteristics

• Catkins: White/silver with prominent yellow anthers (male flowers).
• Bloom time: Late winter to early spring, before leaves.
• Growth: Deciduous, 6-15 feet depending on cultivar.
• Hardiness: Zones 4-8, adaptable to various soils.

Care and Maintenance

• Pruning: After catkins fade (late spring). Can be cut hard for size control.
• Fertilization: Slow-release balanced fertilizer in early spring.
• Pest resistance: Generally disease and insect resistant.
• Uses: Cut branches for forcing indoors in winter; ornamental landscape value.

Why the Confusion?

Wild pussy willows have gray catkins. Nursery hybrids (selected for larger, showier catkins) display the white/yellow combination your neighbor observed. Both are Salix species — just different selections.

Enjoy this early spring harbinger — it's a tough, reliable shrub with seasonal interest.