Pussy willow

Leaves

Form

• Oblong to narrowly elliptic
• Sometimes widest above the middle
• Tip pointed or blunt, base tapered
• Raised veins on upper surface
• Young leaves hairy, becoming hairless; firm
• Stipules small, much larger on vigorous shoots

Length

• 3–10 cm

Colour

• Upper surface bright green
• Lower surface whitish
• Young leaves reddish

Margin

• Toothed, especially above the middle

Buds

Form

• Flattened, pointed, pressed against the twig, closely spaced
• Covered with a single scale
• No true terminal bud; end bud originates as a lateral bud
• Flower buds larger than leaf buds
• Leaf scars V-shaped, with 3 vein scars
• Stipule scars on either side

Length

• Leaf buds 7 mm
• Flower buds up to 10 mm

Colour

• Reddish-purple

Twigs

Form

• Stout, shiny
• Hairy when young, becoming hairless

Colour

• Dark reddish-brown
• Lenticels pale

Flowers

Form

• Catkins on very short shoots with bract-like leaves
• Densely covered with silky hairs when immature

Length

• Pollen catkins 2–4 cm
• Seed catkins 2–6 cm

Colour

• Bracts dark brown with white hairs

Structure

• Dioecious

Floral timing

• Fully developed before the leaves appear

Fruits

Form

• Capsules cylindrical, long-beaked, hairy

Length

• Mature seed catkins up to 9 cm
• Capsules 7–12 mm

Bark

Colour

• Greyish-brown, tinged with red

Size

Height

• To 6 m

Tree form

Open-grown

Crown

• Branches upright

Habitat

Site

• Wet meadows, alder swamps and along shorelines