**LIMITED AVAILABILITY**

Keystone Value: The genus Salix (Willow) supports over 450 species of butterfly and moth caterpillars, providing food for a variety of birds and mammals.

Pussy Willow (Salix discolor) is a large, deciduous, multi-stemmed shrub that grows naturally in moist to wet soils in meadows, swamps, and along lakes and streams. Although it occasionally reaches the size of a small tree, is can be cut to the ground every 3-5 years to maintain a smaller shrub shape. The flowers are silky, silvery catkins that appear in late winter/early spring, and their appearance is recognized as an early sign of spring. The catkins provide textural interest to native gardens and also support early season pollinators. Pussy Willow is a larval host to the viceroy butterfly (shown above), among many others, in addition to supporting a large number of specialized bees. It is an early season food source for songbirds, waterfowl, and small mammals.

**NOTE** The Pussy Willow offered here are unsexed, meaning we cannot guarantee a male or female plant.

We ship from two locations:

• Maryland – Our nursery in Maryland is perfectly located to serve the Eastern United States within a 2-3 day shipping window. You will receive the most reasonable shipping rates from our Maryland location if you live east of Ohio.

• Illinois – Our nursery in Illinois is perfectly located to serve the Midwestern United states within a 2-3 day shipping window. You will receive the most reasonable shipping rates from our Illinois location if you live west of West Virginia.