Japanese Pussy Willow is a fast growing, rounded, flowering tree, in the willow family and native to China, Korea, and Japan. It is considered one of the most showy pussy willows with wonderfully large (to 3 inches) silvery-pink catkins emerging from glossy red buds beginning in late winter. Japanese Pussy Willow prefers moist to wet soil in a sunny location that is mildly acidic or neutral. It tolerates most soil types from sandy, loam, or clay. It is cold hardy. The plant is popular with its cuttings often used for decorations and its vigorous growth allowing for plenty of early cutting. It can withstand heavy pruning. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or insect pests. More information on Salix .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Moist | Occasionally Wet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Erect; Multi-stemmed; Rounded
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Blue; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Ovate
Leaf margin
Dentate; Serrate
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Alternate, simple dark blue-green leaves 2 to 5 inches long. Leaf blade elliptic or ovate, 1 1/2 to 3 inches long, both surfaces are smooth.
Flower color
Gray/Silver; Pink
Flower value
Good Cut; Long-lasting; Showy
Flower form
Catkin
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Large, rounded red flower buds. Male flowers are 1 to 3 inches, silky silver with pink to rose tinge. Female catkin is less than an inch.
Bloom time
Spring; Winter
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Capsule ovoid-ellipsoid.
Stem color
Brown/Copper
Stem detail
Branches are dark or reddish brown and shiny.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Northern and Eastern China, Korea, and Japan
Wildlife value
This plant supports Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) larvae which has two to three broods from May-September. Adult butterflies feed on decaying matter, aphid honeydew, and nectar from composite flowers.