Growing Pussy Willows?

[KSprairie]

Wasn’t sure where to put this topic. It’s not a fruit, and not a garden plant…
But does anyone grow pussy willow?
Growing up in MN, they were growing around in the wilder areas. My dad would cut some and bring them home - always an encouraging sign of spring!
I’d like to try grow some here in Kansas. Any advice? Know where I can get some? How easy are they to root? Start from seed?
Thanks!

[jcguarneri]

They are very easy to grow, especially from cuttings. I’m not sure of how the native ones would fare in Kansas, but they should be OK if given sufficient moisture or planted in a wet spot. You can get a bundle of them from the NH state nursery. There are also some non-native types that are common in the nursery trade. Vermont Willow Nursery is an excellent source and only sells cuttings for rooting (which is all but guaranteed to get you a rooted plant). They’d probably be able to tell you what would work in your environement.

[KSprairie]

That is really helpful!! Thanks so much! I have a few wet spots around that just always hold water, unless we are in the midst of a drought. Rather than try fill them in completely, I thought maybe it would be more useful to plant something that can utilize the moisture.

[jcguarneri]

No problem! Once you get them established, you can keep taking cuttings to get more. For best blooms in ornamental settings, it’s recommended to coppice to the ground every few years after bloom. This will send up loads of long, straight shoots that will bloom the next year. And you’ll have all the cuttings you can use!

[Patanax]

I came across a tree in a park today and the whole thing was buzzing due to bees and hoverflies gathering nectar. One of the first spring flowers

[clarkinks]

When i was a kid my mom grew some from henry fields. They did fine but never got very big. She grew them at the pond.

[KSprairie]

I wondered if you all had grown them Clark. They are not too expensive, so I think I will give them a try. I keep looking around at all of the things I want to do, new plants to try, new cultivars to graft or plant… I get carried away and find I don’t keep up with what I have. But these seem much easier maintenance than a fruit tree, so maybe I will have some success.

[KSprairie]

This will send up loads of long, straight shoots that will bloom the next year. And you’ll have all the cuttings you can use!

Perfect! Sounds do-able, even for me!!

[clarkinks]

My mom always babied them cause she liked them they are not like spirea, forsythia, or rose rugosa which are all 0 maintenance. Wysteria, honeysuckle etc. grow like weeds as well. Flower gardens are always nice on the eyes.

[KSprairie]

We have several wet areas in the yard to choose from. Lots more in the pastures where we have a pond, intermittent streams, and a spring area. The only problem with planting things in the pasture is the cattle will most likely annihilate them, once they find them. I don’t know if cattle eat willow… never thought about it. I will look that one up.

[clarkinks]

Our black angus left them alone as did the hogs.

[BlueBerry]

I know where a pussy willow is about as tall as a one-story home in Berea, KY.
But, one I planted around 30 years ago was clipped near my mailbox by the right-of-way mowing crew…and never recovered…it was a “black pussywillow”.

[KSprairie]

From a quick check, it looks like they will occasionally browse on willow, but as with most woody species, they will leave them alone. Unless they are in an over-grazed situation, and then they will eat out of necessity.

[KSprairie]

Wow, that tall? I have never seen one that big. Our MN pussy willow were short shrubs. I don’t know if any of those ever got over 10’, but I think under 6’ was the norm… but it has been MANY years ago, and my memory may not be correct.
Sorry about your black one! Stuff gets run over all the time by the mowers, it seems.

[Happy1]

I own 8 acres of land in southern Ohio. They are growning wild in a small pond on my property. I have been told that they filter water and the roots are edable.

[BlueBerry]

Let me know if you find they are edible/tasty!

[Rosdonald]

I have a pretty hardy plant which I end up cutting back each year because it is getting too large for its garden area. Are pussy willows amenable to transplanting or grafting? If so, I would be happy to send out some cuttings. I think its getting close to coming out of dormancy.

[northof53]

Stick a branch in the ground and it should root.

[Rosdonald]

Thats the kind of planting I like. Forsythias seem to take 100% of the time. Once you have one bush, you never need another.

I will check and see how my bush looks and then give a heads up if anyone wants some cuttings.

[KSprairie]

That would be fantastic, very kind of you!