Japanese Pussy Willow
Salix chaenomeloides
Pickup currently unavailable at Aiken Nursery
Salix chaenomeloides, the Japanese pussy willow, is a fast-growing shrub or small tree native to Japan, Korea, and parts of China, long valued in East Asian gardens for the show the plant makes in the depths of winter. Well before the leaves break, the bare branches set fat, silvery-white catkins with a soft, velvety nap, the largest and most striking of any pussy willow, and the branches are cut by the armful for early-spring arrangements.
The catkins reach two to four inches long, far bigger than those of the common pussy willows, and hang thickly along the stems in a display that reads from across a garden. As the catkins mature they flush a soft yellow when the stamens push through, and on male plants that pollen is among the first food of the season for waking bees, since the species is dioecious and carries male and female catkins on separate plants.
Like the whole willow tribe, the Japanese pussy willow carries the ancient medicinal thread of the family, for the bark holds salicin, the compound whose chemistry led in time to aspirin. That story, common to the willows and set out in the fields below, sits alongside a long ornamental history and the plant's steady usefulness for cut branches and quick garden screening.
Fast, hardy, and easy, Salix chaenomeloides makes a fine informal screen, a streamside or pondside shrub, or a cutting-garden plant grown for the winter catkins, and the strong roots help hold a damp bank. Give full sun to part shade and steady moisture, cut some stems hard each year for the biggest catkins on strong new wood, and enjoy one of the earliest signs of the turning year.
- Hardiness
- USDA Zones 6–8
- Sun
- Full Sun, Part Shade
- Soil
- Well-drained, Moist
- Mature size
- Height 15–20 Feet · Spread 4–10 Feet
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Seasonality
- Deciduous
Large silvery-white catkins 2 to 4 inches long on bare branches in late winter, maturing soft yellow as the stamens emerge; male and female on separate plants.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is shared for traditional and educational interest only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional before any medicinal use.
- Not medical advice
- Avoid if allergic to aspirin or salicylates
- Not for children or teens with fever due to Reye's syndrome risk
- Consult a qualified practitioner, especially during pregnancy or with stomach conditions
From rooting to shipping, our top priority is ensuring you receive healthy, thriving plants for your garden’s success.
Because most of our plants are grown from rooted cuttings — alongside seed, air layering, and grafting chosen for each variety — you receive a stronger, true-to-type plant that establishes quickly in your garden.
Raised on organic soil blends and eco-friendly pest management — never harsh chemicals — your plant arrives healthy for your garden, your family, and the pollinators they feed.
Every purchase gives back. We donate to the Aiken Arboretum and support local wildlife conservation, so growing your garden helps protect the wider ecosystem too.
All our plant material is carefully propagated, grown, and nurtured at our humble nursery in Aiken, South Carolina.
Your plant arrives carefully packed and ready to settle in. Unpack them promptly, give them a day or two to acclimate, then plant following the notes we include — that’s all it takes. Clear care guidance comes with every order, so success is the easy part.
What to expect upon delivery
All our plants are sold in 1-gallon sizes, though the height of each plant can vary depending on its growth rate and seasonality, typically ranging from 1/2 to 2.5 feet.
Each plant is carefully packaged with its roots enclosed in a secure plastic bag containing moist soil, forming a compact root ball. To ensure safe transport, the box is padded with recycled newspaper, providing both stability and eco-friendly protection from weather during shipping.
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Review our full return policy information on our SHIPPING AND RETURNS POLICY page.
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At Woodlanders, we strive to fulfill orders as quickly as possible. Therefore, we can only accommodate changes to your order within the first 24 hours after it has been placed. These changes include adding or removing products and modifying the delivery address. If you need to make any changes or if there has been a mistake with your order information, please reach out to us promptly via our CONTACT page with your order number for the quickest resolution.
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