Salicaceae

Pussy willow

Salix discolor Muhl.

Family: Salicaceae
Genus: Salix

Pet and kid safety: not checked yet. Check pet-safe plants

Pussy willow (Salix discolor) — FlowerPhoto: Fyn Kynd, CC BY-SA 4.0, from iNaturalist

Is yours looking unwell? Scan your plant — free

Common names

By language (4)

Chinese: 猫柳
English: Pussy willow, American pussy willow, Glaucous willow
French: Saule discolore
Portuguese: Os gatos e o salgueiro

Synonyms

Salix ancorifera Fernald
Salix discolor var. discolor
Salix discolor var. overi C.R.Ball
Salix discolor var. prinoides (Pursh) Andersson
Salix fuscata Pursh
Salix prinoides Pursh
Usionis fuscata (Pursh) Raf.
Vimen prinoides (Pursh) Raf.

Flowers

In flower: April (from 308 flowering iNaturalist observations worldwide)
Flower colour: white (USDA PLANTS Database)

Characteristics

Growth habit: Shrub, Tree
Lifespan: Perennial
In the US and Canada: Canada: native, Lower 48 states: native

Photos

FlowerPhoto: Fyn Kynd, CC BY-SA 4.0, from iNaturalist
LeavesPhoto: Kallum McDonald, CC0, from iNaturalist
Photo: Ryan Hodnett, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: jake kristophel, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Pl@ntNet via GBIF
Photo: Étienne Lacroix-Carignan, CC0, from iNaturalist
Photo: tomd418, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Pl@ntNet via GBIF
Photo: Jaime McGuigan, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
Photo: Richard W, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Pl@ntNet via GBIF
Photo: Sandy Wolkenberg, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
Photo: aithena munkyfunk, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Pl@ntNet via GBIF
Photo: Lise F, CC BY-SA 4.0, from iNaturalist
Photo: Callie Reymann, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Pl@ntNet via GBIF

More in Salix

Sources: classification, synonyms from World Flora Online Plant List (2026-06, CC0 1.0); common names, popularity from Wikidata (2026-10-26, CC0 1.0); common names, US characteristics from USDA PLANTS Database (2025-05-29, CC0 1.0). About our plant data.