Image of Salix discolor
Source: OWSL

Plant Names

image of Deciduous Tree
Salix discolor
Pussy Willow
Saule discolore

Synonyms

American pussy willow
glaucous willow
large pussy willow
lowland pussy willow
chatons
saule p'tits-minous

Plant Characteristics

Bloom Colour: White Bloom Period: Apr - May
Max Height: 15.0 feet
Max Width: 12.0 feet (spreads by rhizome)
Light Condition:
Full sun More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Part shade More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Full shade Less than 2 or 3 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Moisture medium Tolerates medium soil condition
Lifespan: Perennial plants that will come back year after year Plant is dioecious Need a male and female plant to produce seeds
Gardener Experience:
plant spread by rhizome Spreads by rhizome
plant self seeding Self-seeding
Landscape Uses:
wetland garden Suitable for wetland garden
shoreline_rehab Suitable for shoreline rehabilitation
school garden Suitable for school gardens
woodland garden Suitable for woodland gardens
hedge Can be used as a hedge
Ecological Benefits:
Pollinator garden Supports pollinators
bee host Bee host
keystones species Keystone species
Tolerates:
Salt Tolerant Tolerates salt conditions
Foot Traffic Tolerant Tolerates foot traffic around the plant
Limestone Tolerant Tolerates limestone conditions
Sand Tolerant Tolerates sandy conditions
Juglone Tolerant Tolerates juglone conditions
Transplantation Tolerant Tolerates transplantation
Special Features and Considerations:

Seed and plant distribution status

No seeds available for this plant.

We are not accepting seeds for this plant at the moment.

Plant Location

Native to Ottawa region: Yes

Distribution according to VASCAN

Distribution: Salix discolor
Ephemeral Native Introduced Excluded Extirpated Doubtful Absent

Thrives in Ecozones

  • Taiga Plains
  • Atlantic Maritime
  • Taiga Shield
  • Boreal Plains
  • Montane Cordillera
  • Prairies
  • Hudson Plains
  • Boreal Shield
  • Boreal Cordillera
  • Pacific Maritime
  • Mixed Wood Plains

Ecological Benefits

Butterflies Supported by Salix discolor

Specialized Bees Supported by Salix discolor

  • Andrena bisalicis
  • Andrena clarkella
  • Andrena erythrogaster
  • Andrena frigida
  • Andrena mariae
  • Andrena sigmundi
  • Andrena wellesleyana
  • Megachile pugnata
  • Protandrena andrenoides

Complementary Plants

  • No complementary plants found.

Substitute For Non-Native Plants

  • Forsythieae (Forsythia)

Sowing Information

Download Seed Envelope Labels (PDF)
  • Sowing depth: Surface sow
  • Sow anytime
  • Stratification duration: 0 days
  • Self-seeding
  • Notes: Can be sown in late spring in warm soil.

Harvesting and Seed Sharing

  • Harvest start month: May
  • Harvesting indicator:
    • Seeds have become fluffy and can be easily removed by shaking on gently pulling off from stem
  • Harvesting:
    • Shake seed head in paper bag
  • Seed viability test:
    • No test needed before donating
  • Packaging measure: Six (6) seeds (eyeball)
  • Seed storage:
    • Air dry in paper bag or open container, for a few days until crisp
    • Shake seeds to move them once in a while to prevent molding
  • Cultivar: No, you can donate without knowing the source as there are only straight species
  • No harvesting video available at this time.

Toxicity Notes

Inadequate information on toxicity found.