Salix discolor, the American pussy willow or glaucous willow, is a species native to North America, one of two species commonly called pussy willow. It is native to the vast reaches of Alaska as well as the northern forests and wetlands of Canada.
Salix discolor is a weak-wooded deciduous shrub or small tree growing to 6 m (20 ft) tall, with brown shoots. The leaves are oval, 3–14 cm long and 1–3.5 cm broad, green above and downy grey-white beneath. The flowers are soft silky silvery catkins, borne in early spring before the new leaves appear, with the male and female catkins on different plants; the male catkins mature yellow at pollen release. Pussy willows can be kept compact and shrub-like through proper pruning. In spring, they serve as specimen plants for the lawn, or you can use them for privacy screens or borders. Deer, squirrels, and birds like to eat the branches of pussy willows.
These plants love moisture. They thrive along banks of streams in the wild and are useful for controlling soil erosion. You will need to ensure they have plenty of water and are not subjected to drought conditions. Water them once or twice a week if there is no natural rainfall.
This plant likes loamy, moist, rich soil. It wants to be kept wet and will tolerate poorly-drained soil, but it is best if the soil is well-drained.
Pussy willows can do well with compost or leaf-mold. You can fertilize them once in the fall with a balanced fertilizer after the plant is more than one year old. Use 0.5 pounds of fertilizer for every 0.5 inches of base-trunk diameter, spread 18 inches beyond the drip line of the branches. Don't let the fertilizer come into contact with the trunk of the pussy willow.
Pussy willows will grow well in temperate conditions with cold winters. They grow slower in hot climates. These trees can be grown in the areas with the lowest winter temperatures down to −34.4°C (−30°F).
