Salix discolor: Uses (Ethnobotany)
Native Americans are known to have used this plant for medicinal purposes. It was also used in making rope, baskets, containers, fasteners, cooking tools, and in making netting.
Plant Profile: Salix discolor
Taxonomy: Salix discolorNames
Pussy Willow
Phonetic Spelling:SAL-iks DIS-kol-or
Genus:Salix
Species:discolor
Family:Salicaceae
Salix discolor, commonly known as the American pussy willow or glaucous willow, is a willow species indigenous to North America. Its fast-growing, shallow root system can obstruct sewers and drains, complicating gardening efforts beneath the trees. After flowering, it can be pruned back significantly. This species is resilient against deer, erosion, wet soil conditions, and the presence of black walnut trees.
Salix discolor Feature Summary
Tags
#deciduous
#wildlife plant
#moths
#playground
#specialized bees
#food source
#children's garden
#pollinator plant
#larval host plant
#bird friendly
#butterfly friendly
#pollinator garden
#bee friendly
#viceroy butterflies
Similar Plants
Salix discolor Feature Summary
Attributes
Native Americans are known to have used this plant for medicinal purposes. It was also used in making rope, baskets, containers, fasteners, cooking tools, and in making netting.
North America
This plant supports Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) larvae which has two to three broods from May-September. Adult butterflies feed on decaying matter, aphid honeydew, and nectar from composite flowers. Members of the Salix genus support the following specilized bees: Andrena (Parandrena) andrenoides, Andrena (Thysandrena) bisalicis, Andrena (Tylandrena) erythrogaster, Andrena (Andrena) frigida, Andrena (Micrandrena) illinoiensis, Andrena (Andrena) macoupinensis, Andrena (Trachandrena) mariae, Andrena (Parandrena) nida, Andrena (Micrandrena) nigrae, Andrena (Micrandrena) salictaria, Andrena (Parandrena) wellesleyana.
Woody
Stem Cutting
Wildlife Food Source
Attracts Pollinators
Textural
Flowers
Silky gray male flowers in spring before leaves emerge on separate male and female plants
White
Gray/Silver
Good Cut
Long-lasting
Good Dried
Spring
Winter
Leaves
Alternate, simple leaves; 3 to 4 in. long; gray-green underside; non-showy fall color
Deciduous
Green
Gray/Silver
Gold/Yellow
Insignificant
Simple
Alternate
3-6 inches
Whole Plant Traits
Shrub
Deciduous
Multi-stemmed
Erect
Rapid
Low
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Good Drainage
Moist
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
2a
2b
3a
3b
Fruit
Stem
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Children's Garden
Hedge
Dry Soil
Recreational Play Area
Lawn
Meadow
Pond
Butterflies
Pollinators
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
Salix discolor Image Gallery
Salix discolor Attributes
Salix discolor: Country Or Region Of Origin
North America
Salix discolor: Wildlife Value
This plant supports Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) larvae which has two to three broods from May-September. Adult butterflies feed on decaying matter, aphid honeydew, and nectar from composite flowers. Members of the Salix genus support the following specilized bees: Andrena (Parandrena) andrenoides, Andrena (Thysandrena) bisalicis, Andrena (Tylandrena) erythrogaster, Andrena (Andrena) frigida, Andrena (Micrandrena) illinoiensis, Andrena (Andrena) macoupinensis, Andrena (Trachandrena) mariae, Andrena (Parandrena) nida, Andrena (Micrandrena) nigrae, Andrena (Micrandrena) salictaria, Andrena (Parandrena) wellesleyana.
Salix discolor: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Salix discolor: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Salix discolor: Play Value
Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer
Salix discolor Flowers
Salix discolor: Flower Description
Silky gray male flowers in spring before leaves emerge on separate male and female plants
Salix discolor: Flower Color
Gray/Silver
White
Salix discolor: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Salix discolor: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Salix discolor Leaves
Salix discolor: Leaf Description
Alternate, simple leaves; 3 to 4 in. long; gray-green underside; non-showy fall color
Salix discolor: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Salix discolor: Leaf Color
Gray/Silver
Green
Salix discolor: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color
Gold/Yellow
Insignificant
Salix discolor: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Salix discolor: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Salix discolor: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Salix discolor: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Salix discolor Whole Plant Traits
Salix discolor: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Salix discolor: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Salix discolor: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Salix discolor: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Salix discolor: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Salix discolor: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Salix discolor Cultural Conditions
Salix discolor: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Salix discolor: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Salix discolor: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
2a
2b
3a
3b
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
Salix discolor Fruit
Salix discolor: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Salix discolor: Fruit Color
Brown/Copper
Salix discolor: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Salix discolor Stem
Salix discolor: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Salix discolor Landscape
Salix discolor: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Salix discolor: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Salix discolor: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Salix discolor: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Salix discolor: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
