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Searching for pussy willow trees? Salix Caprea also known as the goat willow, pussy willow and great sallow, is a common small tree occurring naturally in Central Asia and Europe.  Sometimes considered a shrub, this willow is loved for it’s sweet appearance and a few unique and interesting uses. This lovely tree makes a great addition to any garden or yard and is available—along with many other fine landscaping trees—for sale at Appalachian Farms!

Pussy willows managed to naturalize in the Eastern United States. They typically grow to just under 35 feet tall in the wild but are also quite commonly trimmed down for shrubbery. They are what’s known as dioecious which means trees are separated into male and female which respectively grow male and female catkins. Catkins are blooms on a tree that resemble spikes but are covered in a soft, downy material resembling hairs. All of this willows catkins start life a silvery gray color in early spring but change in the late spring and early summer. Female catkins can be distinguished by their pale green color at maturity, whereas the male catkins turn a sunny yellow at pollen release. This tree uses the wind to pollinate as it’s tiny fruit grows on the woolly surface of the catkins and is picked up and carried to other plants. An alternative name for this tree is the goat willow because farmers often grow them to graze their goats on. It is also grown for cut flowers, used as decoration on Palm Sunday in Hungary, and used to make willow flutes in Scandinavia!

This lovely species of willow makes a somewhat exotic, sweet addition to any yard, park or garden. It’s available to ship nationally and for sale along with many other types of landscaping trees at G&S Trees.