When gardeners think of the first flowers of spring, they often have some of the spring bulbs in mind: snowdrops Galanthus , crocus Crocus , winter aconite Eranthis , etc. And there is no doubt they are early bloomers. Depending on where you live, they can be in bloom from January in the mildest climates to May in the coldest regions. Any willow Salix with relatively large or striking furry flower clusters is likely to be considered a pussy willow. This type of inflorescence is called a catkin, a word derived from old Dutch for kitten.

Pussy willow is the name given to smaller species in the Salix genus when the furry catkins appear in early spring. The North American native plant Salix discolor, a deciduous shrub, is the most common species, though the European species S. The furry catkins of pussy willows are one of spring's earliest harbingers. Though most often found in wild wetland areas, if you have the proper conditions, you can grow this shrub in your yard. Proper pruning allows you to show off these plants with maximum impact in your landscape. Pussy willows are dioecious , with the male pussy willow trees producing catkins earlier than the female trees and therefore being more highly prized.

Pussy willows are a sure sign of spring, as they are among the first plants to bloom. Blooming in late winter, these plants are exposed to the lingering cold. The flowers are protected by silky hairs that keep the flowers warm so they can develop and mature.

Last fall, I went to a nearby wetland with a pair of clippers and cut twigs from one willow shrub after another. These cute, pointy caps are very different from the overlapping scales that protect most buds through the winter. And the few woody plants with no protective scales are easily recognizable: their naked, embryonic leaves rely on a coating of woolliness to keep them from desiccating or freezing. But telling one willow from another is quite a different matter.