Salix gracilistyla is a species of willow native to Japan, Korea and China known in English as rose-gold pussy willow. It is a deciduous shrub that reaches a height of 1–6 m. 'Melanostachys', also known as black pussy willow, is known for its jet-black male and female catkin blooms which appear in early spring. Its male catkins also have red anthers, which slowly turn soft yellow from pollen.