Pussy Willow
Salix discolor
- Plant Type
- Shrub (Deciduous)
- Landscape Layer
- Understory
- Sun
- ☀️ Full Sun, ⛅ Part Sun
- Moisture
- 💧 Regular, 💧💧 High, 💧💧💧 Wet
- Soil
- Clay, Loam, Sand, Silt, Rocky / Acidic, Organic / Peat, Calcareous
- Bloom
- April, May
- Sociability
- S2 – Small groups
Pollinator Value
- 🔑 Keystone
- Salix is a keystone genus in eastern North America, supporting 415 species of butterflies and moths as caterpillar host plants. The genus ranks among the top woody plant genera for lepidopteran diversity. As one of the earliest-blooming woody plants, Salix discolor provides critical early-season pollen and nectar for emerging bees and butterflies, anchoring spring pollinator food webs in wetland and riparian habitats.
S13 415 lepidoptera species; S10 early-season nectar/pollen; S64 Xerces pollinator plant
- 🐛 Larval Host
- Euparthenos nubilis, Furcula scolopendrina, Furcula borealis, Haploa clymene, Polygonia faunus, Hypercompe scribonia, Limenitis archippus, Nymphalis antiopa, Paonias myops, Orgyia definita, Acronicta interrupta, Sphinx gordius, Synchlora aerata, Hyles lineata, Limenitis arthemis
- 🐝 Specialist Bee Host
- Andrena andrenoides, Andrena bisalicis, Andrena clarkella, Andrena erythrogaster, Andrena frigida, Andrena illinoiensis, Andrena macoupinensis, Andrena mariae, Andrena nida, Andrena nigrae, Andrena salictaria, Andrena sigmundi, Andrena wellesleyana, Perdita maculigera
S17 14 Salix pollen specialist bees in Eastern NA
- ❄️ Winter Food Source
- Willow buds and catkins are a critical winter food for Ruffed Grouse, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Rock Ptarmigan, Willow Ptarmigan, and White-tailed Ptarmigan, constituting up to 70% of winter diet in ptarmigan species. Common Redpoll and Pine Grosbeak also feed on willow buds. Persistent buds on branches provide forage through the coldest months.
S57 Ruffed Grouse, ptarmigan spp., Common Redpoll, Pine Grosbeak; S10 early-season harvest for birds
Ecology & Conservation
- Proximity Score
- 0
- Native Status
- ✅ Outaouais ✅ Ottawa ✅ QC ✅ ON
- Closest Direction
- Local
- CEC Eco-Regions
- 5 – Northern Forests, 5.2 – Mixed Wood Shield, 5.2.3 – Algonquin/Southern Laurentians
- Rarity Notes
- Ranked S5 (Secure) in both Ontario and Quebec, and G5 globally. Not listed under SARA or COSEWIC. Widespread across boreal and mixed-wood regions of Canada from British Columbia to Newfoundland. Nationally ranked N5 in both Canada and the United States.
- Rarity Ranks
- QC S5 – Secure, ON S5 – Secure
- Migration
- Stable
- Ecological Context
- Pussy willow is a common pioneer shrub of wet, open habitats throughout the Ottawa Valley and Outaouais region. It colonizes stream banks, marshes, soggy thickets, fens, and wet meadows, often forming small groups along shorelines and in low-lying areas. In the Gatineau region it grows in rich, moist soils on FACW wetland sites, tolerating seasonal flooding and high water tables. As an early-successional species, it requires periodic disturbance to persist against encroaching forest canopy.
S10 marshes, soggy thickets, wet prairies; S7 swamps, shores, stream banks; S62 Common in Ottawa; S11 FACW wetland status
Permaculture & Companion Planting
- Roles
- Fire Retardant, Fortress/Barrier, Insectary Plant, Nutrient Accumulator, Pollinator Attractor, Water Purifier
S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Fire Retardant: S73 [MEDIUM]: S11 Fire Tolerance = Medium (not definitional)] | Fortress/Barrier: S61 keyword match: thorns? (supporting signal only)] | Insectary Plant: S64 NPPBI 'beneficial insects' flag] | Nutrient Accumulator: S72 Hemenway (tables: 5-3, 6-2, pp. 82, 96)] | Pollinator Attractor: S73 [HIGH]: S64 Xerces listed (source-classified)] | Water Purifier: S72 Hemenway (tables: 5-3, 6-2, pp. 82, 96)]
- Notes
- Salix discolor functions as a nutrient accumulator (Ca, Mg), water purifier, and insectary plant in designed guilds. Its early bloom provides critical pollinator resources before most other plants flower. Dense root systems stabilize stream banks and filter runoff. As a fast-growing pioneer, it can serve as a fortress/barrier hedge or windbreak in wet sites. Tolerates juglone, allowing placement near black walnut.
S72 nutrient accumulator, water purifier; S64 insectary plant; S3 tolerates juglone; S73 Fire Retardant, Fortress/Barrier
Medicinal Properties ℹ
Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any plant for medicinal purposes. The information provided is compiled from secondary sources for educational purposes only.
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ℹ
Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any plant for medicinal purposes. The information provided is compiled from secondary sources for educational purposes only.
Click here for more info →- Category
- Analgesic, Febrifuge, Gynecological Aid, Antidiarrheal, Emetic, Hemorrhoid Remedy, Gastrointestinal Aid, Sedative, Stimulant, Hemostat, Panacea
S28 Moerman Drug categories from Algonquin, Blackfoot, Cree, Iroquois, Ojibwa, Potawatomi uses
- Notes
- Extensively used in Indigenous medicine across multiple nations. The Blackfoot took decoctions of new twigs as a painkiller and febrifuge. The Algonquin (Tete-de-Boule) used infusions of young branches to start lactation and inner bark paste for sore throats. The Cree used inner bark infusions for diarrhea. The Iroquois employed compound decoctions as emetics and for hemorrhoids. The Ojibwa used the plant for stomach troubles, trembling, and fainting. The Potawatomi used root bark decoctions for hemorrhages and considered the bark a universal remedy. Willow bark contains salicin, a precursor to aspirin.
S28 16 Drug uses across 6 nations
Edibility & Foraging ℹ
Never ingest a plant unless you have 100% certainty of its identity and have consulted multiple reputable sources. The information provided in the Localeaf Plant Database is compiled from secondary sources for educational and historical purposes only.
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ℹ
Never ingest a plant unless you have 100% certainty of its identity and have consulted multiple reputable sources. The information provided in the Localeaf Plant Database is compiled from secondary sources for educational and historical purposes only.
Click here for more info →❌ Not Edible
Seed Source
- Localeaf