Pussy willow – Salix discolor

Pronunciation: Say-liks dis-cuh-lor

Leaf: Alternate, simple, elliptical to oblong, weakly serrated, 2 - 4 inches long, may be fuzzy, blue-green above, pale almost white below.

Flower: Species is dioecious; catkins, both males and females very fuzzy, silvery gray, 1 inch long, appearing in late winter or very early spring.

Fruit: Small, brown capsules in clusters 2 - 2 ½ inches long, each containing many small fuzzy seeds, ripen in late spring.

Twig: Slender, green or red, may be fuzzy, buds purple-red with a single cap-like scale.

Bark: Gray-brown, initially smooth, becoming split and shallowly furrowed or scaly.

Form: Small tree or multi-stemmed shrub up to 30 feet.

Looks like: Bebb's willow - Scouler willow - Sitka willow - Mackenzie’s willow

Salix discolor - pussy willow Latin name or Celtic "sal" (near) and "lis" (water) / two colors (leaf)