Description
Salix discolor
CT DR RG P EcoR
Soil: Moist, Well-drained
Light: Full Sun (preferred) to Part Shade
Moisture: Moist to Wet
Plant Height: up to 20 feet
Plant Width: up to 20 feet
Pests: None
Landscape Value: Great for low areas, along streams and ponds, and in rain gardens. Good for hedges and screens if pruned regularly.
Fast growing, multi-stemmed shrub with an open crown. Flowers occur in silky catkins that resemble small bottle brushes and bloom in late winter on bare stems before new leaves appear. Male and female catkins occur on different plants. Flowers provide early season pollen for pollinators. When planted in clumps, provides good cover and nesting sites for a variety of birds. Prune as needed in late winter, removing dead or crossing branches and one third of older gray stems (younger stems are brown). Plants may be cut to the ground every 3 to 5 years to maintain smaller size. Can be pruned into a hedge. Susceptible to blights, powdery mildew, and leaf spot. Tolerates wet soil, occasional flooding, black walnut and somewhat drier soils than most willows. Attracts butterflies and bees. Larval host for Mourning Cloak and Viceroy butterflies.
1 gallon pot, 2-3 feet tall
Photo credits:
Missouri Botanical Garden
