Plant Pussy Willow Branches

Pussy Willow branch flowers look like tiny magnolia flowers. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Planting Pussy Willow Branches

If you ever come across, or are gifted, cut pussy willow branches for home decor, enjoy them for a couple of days and then find a place to plant them. By getting them to root, you will then have a source of pussy willow branches for years to come.

There are a number of different pussy willows. Any willow (Salix) with relatively large or striking furry flower clusters is likely to be considered a pussy willow. The “fur” is usually silvery to white hairs, likened to a kitten’s fur. The furry nubs are called a catkin, a word derived from old Dutch for kitten.

Unlike most flowers, catkins have no petals. Their covering of dense hair is designed to protect the delicate flowers inside. In this case, the flowers are white resembling magnolia tree blossoms.

A few more blooming pussy willow flowers on cut branches. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

I discovered these lovely flowers last fall when I found a stash of cut down pussy willow branches. Not knowing they would bloom once cut and brought inside, I would check them every day to see how and why they were blooming.

That means I was hooked. And I have a number of good reasons. Besides this being a plant often associated with cats and the vintage post cards my grandmother used to send me, willows are also excellent bee food.

After a few days of enjoying the white blossoms, and after a good soaking rain, I headed outside with my vase of pussy willow stems to get them in the ground.

Pushing pussy willow branches into soft ground to grow. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

I grouped three branches per spot, gently pushing them into the ground until the lowest growing node was covered. Pussy willows have both male and female plants. Since I don’t know which is which, I increased the chances of the two different plants being close by grouping them together.

A good dose of water and I was done. I love planting in spring, most plants started this time of year nicely make it with very little effort.

And before I headed back inside, I enjoyed looking at the lovely white pussy willow flowers one last time.

Another lovely white flower on these cut Willow branches. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

I am counting on being able to have the next flowers blooming on rooted pussy willows!

Other favorite home decor plants that are easy to start through cuttings include forsythia and berries.

Charlotte