Time to Gather Pussy Willows
The furry catkins of pussy willows are one spring's earliest harbingers - their branches shimmer in the moist to wet soil near meadows, swamps, and streams. Sometimes the furry twigs can be seen even when there's still snow on the ground.
Last week, my gardeners cut bunches of pussy willows from a grove I planted along the wetlands behind my main greenhouse. These deciduous shrubs, Salix, naturally grow up to 20-feet tall, or even more if left unpruned. They are very easy to multiply and make wonderful cut arrangements. We always collect a good number of long, straight branches to make large, dramatic displays for my home.
Here are some photos - enjoy. And see other photos on my Instagram page @MarthaStewart48.
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- With still 12-days to go before spring officially starts, I asked my gardeners Ryan and Brian to go down and cut some pussy willow branches – they looked ready for picking. My pussy willow grove is located in an area behind my greenhouse, where there is lots of full sun and moisture. Grown as deciduous shrubs or small trees, they’re valued for the soft, furry catkins they start bearing in late winter, often while other plants are still dormant.
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- Pussy willow is a common name given to many smaller species of the genus, Salix, when their furry, velvety catkins are young. Salix discolor is the American pussy willow.
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- Here, Ryan assesses which pussy willow branches to cut. I instructed the team to cut those that were straight and about four-feet long.
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- Pussy willows can grow up to 20-feet or even more, when left unpruned. Pussy willow trunks can be either single or clustered with flexible branches and branchlets.
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- Here is a look at some of the furry catkins of the pussy willow. Pussy willow is common throughout the southern half of Canada and the north-central and northeastern portions of the United States.
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- Some pussy willows have very large, furry catkins, such as this Giant Pussy Willow.
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- Giant Pussy Willows have large velvety catkins that always create a bold display.
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- Other pussy willow varieties have smaller catkins, such as these Purple Heirloom pussy willows.
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- This unique variety of pussy willow has attractive blonde bark, thin grassy stems, and lots of small dark purple catkins.
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- This unusual willow is Salix udensis ‘Sekka’, or Fantail Willow. It has a unique, flattened form, rich color, and small catkins. We did not cut any of these this time.
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- And these tall pussy willows are called Salix matsudana ‘Tortuosa’, or Corkscrew Willow. Having no fuzzy catkins, the main ornamental feature of matsudana is the twisted branches.
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- Pussy willows root so easily that stems of almost any size can simply be stuck into a vase of water, where they will form roots in just a few weeks.
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- Once the roots form, pussy willows can then be potted into liner pots with moist soil for a few more weeks while their roots develop. One can also plant cuttings directly into the ground in the spring, where they should eventually root. Willows are known to have invasive roots, so plant away from septic tanks, sewers and water lines.
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- Ryan and Brian place the pussy willows into piles according to their type.
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- Ryan carries several bunches to the side and then goes back for more.
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- Although they can be allowed to grow unpruned, pussy willow will benefit from regular pruning after blooming.
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- Brian takes the last bunch of pussy willows up to the greenhouse for trimming.
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- Ryan cuts them to the same size and ties them in bundles before bringing them into my Winter House for arranging. Cutting them will help them sit level in the urns. And, save the trimmings in case they can be used to tighten the space around the bundles and support them in the vessel.
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- This is an antique urn made of the same material used to manufacture sewer pipes. Sewer tile pottery was made by pipe workers who used leftover clay at the end of the work week to create sculptured forms such as this planter. Over the years, I’ve collected a few pieces.
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- These sewer tile art pieces, made mostly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, were valued for their color, their rarity and their form. I just love these industrial looking vessels – even more so when they are filled with pussy willows.
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- As you can see, the pussy willows kept their upright position. These large arrangements are great indoors – the bigger, the better!
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- Empress Tang looks on with curiosity from behind one of these Eric Soderholtz urns. Soderholtz, who immigrated from Sweden as a child, achieved a reputation in the late 19th century as a photographer of architecture and landscape, with his work appearing in journals and monographs of the period. In the 20th century he gained more notice as a creator of concrete garden sculptures, which he made by hand-turning them rather than using molds. I have many of his pieces at my home in Maine.
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- Both of these urns look so wonderful filled with these gorgeous straight pussy willow branches. Soderholtz referred to this style of urn as an ‘Arabian’ oil jar. To stay soft and furry, don’t put pussy willows in water. If kept dry, they will retain their original form for several weeks. All these pussy willows were arranged dry in these urns.
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- And here is a look from the other side – simply beautiful. This week, we’re expecting temperatures to rise into the high 60s. What are some of the early signs of spring where you live? Share your comments below – I am eager to hear from you.
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