Eared willow
Salix aurita · Salicaceae
📷 Willow · CC BY 2.5
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around eared willow and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Blooming
- March to April
- Mature size
- 1.5 m in height and width
- Growth
- Moderate to fast
- Hardiness
- Very hardy (zone 3-8)
- Origin
- Europe, particularly temperate and boreal regions
- Soil type
- Moist to very wet
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Pussy willow loves moist, even waterlogged soils. Low maintenance once established.
The common mistake
Planting it in dry conditions: it slows down, deteriorates gradually and won't develop a lush, vigorous bushy shape.
The pro's trick
Plant in groups of 3-5 specimens for a more natural and vigorous effect.
Care
Watering
Pussy willow loves moisture and wet soils. Keep the substrate regularly moist, especially during the spring-summer growing season. In case of prolonged drought, water generously; this plant thrives at water's edge or in marshy areas.
Light Exposure
Position your pussy willow in partial shade or light shade for optimal growth. It also tolerates full sun but prefers partial shade exposure, especially in warm regions.
Soil Composition
This willow appreciates rich, moist to waterlogged and slightly acidic soils. Enrich your potting mix with peat or quality compost. Avoid overly dry and compacted soils; adding organic matter improves structure and moisture retention.
Pruning and Shape
Pussy willow requires only light pruning, mainly to remove dead or poorly placed branches after flowering (late April). If you wish to densify the silhouette, prune gently in spring before growth starts.
Fertilizing
A balanced fertilizer application in spring (such as NPK 10-10-10) is generally sufficient. If your soil is rich in organic matter, no additional feeding is needed in subsequent years.
Health and Prevention
Pussy willow is generally robust. Watch for aphids or sawfly larvae in spring, particularly during dry spells. Good soil moisture and regular aeration reduce fungal risks. Check for bark damage or lesions.
Did you know?
Pussy willow was once a precious food refuge for livestock in winter: its young leaves and twigs served as emergency forage. The name 'pussy willow' comes from the soft, downy nature of its catkins. The cottony and golden catkins of spring make it a true herald of seasonal renewal in wet and boreal regions.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- AspenPopulus tremula
- Goat willowSalix caprea
- Grey willowSalix cinerea
- White willowSalix alba
- Creeping willowSalix repens
- Black poplarPopulus nigra
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.