Pussy Willow, Willow

One of the very first signs of spring in the Ontario landscape, its soft, silvery catkins emerge on bare stems in late February and March, often before any snow has melted.

• Large shrub to small tree that thrives in moist to wet soils
• Early catkins provide a critical first nectar source for bees emerging from winter dormancy
• Excellent for stream banks, wet meadows, and rain garden borders
• Fast-growing and adaptable; tolerates periodic flooding