Japanese Giant Pussy Willow. I would refer to this plant as "Giant Pussy Willow" because it is so much more robust than the more familiar S. caprea, which is usually just referred to as pussy willow. The stems are a shiny burgundy with bright red flower buds and the male catkins are incredible, up to 3" long. The ultimate size of the plant may be 15-20' with an equal spread, so give it plenty of room. I really think that there would be a good cut-flower market for the stems of this plant. It is quite popular to bring dormant cuttings into the home and put them in a vase and let them slowly open for winter floral interest.
Zones 4-8
