Some of the unsung heroes in winter colour are the many new varieties of pussy willows, and credit goes to our local B.C. outdoor cut flower growers for bringing in these remarkable specimens.
One of the most notable is a very early silver-catkin variety that actually colours up in mid-November. I have just gotten back from the world’s largest horticultural show, the Ipm Essen show in Germany, and noticed a huge trend there in the use of natural twigs in floral art.
Virtually all their cut bouquets had the added value of flowering twigs like forsythia and quince. Pussy willows fit this category nicely because they will last for up to a year, even if left out of water.
As a flowering shrub, pussy willows really "pop" in a winter landscape, especially on those sunny days. In the cold of winter, the catkins can last up to eight weeks.
For years now we have had black-catkin varieties available. I remember at the Seattle Flower and Garden Festival virtually everyone was leaving with a bunch of these black beauties to mix into their spring flower arrangements.
The fasciated varieties are even more popular. The unique stems are flattened, whorled, and curled for a most beautiful effect. They, too, have catkins but they are spread out sporadically on the twisted stems.
The traditional silver-catkin varieties come in many forms and even grow wild in certain habitats. There are some spectacular forms with huge catkins which are highly prized, even on their own, as a simple bouquet in a tall vase.
When in Europe a few years ago I spotted a large flowered pink variety. It was truly spectacular. After several years of searching, to my delight, I found a source for the plant. Apparently, it was a Japanese variety called Mt. Aso.
It’s just coming into bloom now, and does it ever brighten up the garden! Highly valued as a cut stem, it brings significant income at our Burnaby United Flower Growers auction.
Thanks to local growers they are now available in garden stores for enjoyment in your own home garden. Even though it is a vigorous willow, by pruning hard after the catkins finish, you can keep them compact, and they will be even more spectacular year after year.
These salix varieties are wildlife friendly, great pollinators when other plants have finished, and they provide a continuous source of cut stems to enjoy indoors. What’s not to love?
At this darker time of year, maybe consider a new addition, or two, to your winter colour scheme.
