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:
bee host Bee host
keystones species Keystone species
Tolerates:
Salt Tolerant Tolerates salt conditions
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.