French Pussy Willow (Salix Caprea)

Description

Latin Name: Salix caprea
Hardiness Zones: 4-8
Other Common Names: French Pussy Willow, Goat Willow

Mature Height: Salix caprea is a deciduous shrub or small tree with weak wood, typically growing up to 25 feet (7.5 meters) tall and spreading 15 feet (4.5 meters) wide. With regular pruning, it can be trained into a smaller hedge. The roots are shallow (Missouri Botanical Garden).

Soil / Climate: This plant thrives in full sun or partial shade and prefers moist, well-drained soil, although it can tolerate drier conditions. Native to Europe and Northeastern Asia (Missouri Botanical Garden).

Notes: Salix caprea is fast-growing and often used as screens or specimen plants. Pruning is recommended in late winter or early spring. For smaller shrubs, prune nearly to the ground every 3 to 5 years. It produces soft, silky, fluffy catkins (1-2 inches) in early spring before the new leaves emerge (Missouri Botanical Garden). Buds form in late winter, which is the optimal time for pruning (University of Arkansas). Male trees bear showy, grayish-pink catkins, while female trees have more greenish catkins. The catkins of French Pussy Willow are larger compared to those of standard Pussy Willow. The fruit is a small capsule, 7–12 mm long, containing numerous tiny seeds embedded in cottony down (Missouri Botanical Garden). The slightly toothed leaves are typically around 6 inches (15 cm) long, elliptic or oblong in shape. The upper side of the leaves is dark green, while the underside is grayish-green. The foliage turns yellow in autumn (Missouri Botanical Garden). The branches are upright and erect, with a yellowish-brown color that darkens with age. Salix caprea can adapt to various soil pH levels (University of Connecticut). It is commonly used in table decorations.

Problems: Weak wood makes Salix caprea prone to cracking. It is susceptible to diseases such as leaf spots, powdery mildew, blights, and cankers, as well as pests like scale insects, lacebugs, and caterpillars (Missouri Botanical Garden).

For more information, visit:

• Missouri Botanical Garden: Salix caprea
• University of Connecticut: Salix caprea
• University of Arkansas: Pussy Willow