PussyWillow

Always on the lookout for something different, I've become aware of the posibility of finding black pussy willow
(a native of japan) or perhaps from france, a pink Pussy Willow. Each dreary winter i always look forward to our native pussy willows showing as harbingers of spring. The color ( black and or pink) might make a nice distraction.

So, who out here across this planet has any stories to tell about using these as bonsai.

Tried the Japanese pussy willow twice. Had massive dieback every winter, and they finally died.

Been there DONE that.

I just got a nice Black Pussy willow division sent out to me from my Mother, who spied one in a friends garden and persuaded her to split off a couple. I look forward to planting it in with my ornamentals. I have given serious thought to working with a big multi stemmed pussy willow that is planted on the corner of the garden closest to my house. They can grow quite large and develop heavy trunks quickly. This particular one is a bit big for where its planted. I too am interested to hear stories of people fooling with Pussy willow.
-Jay

Hi Dick, ForestFarm.com is a good source for willows of all types, three or four pages of salix in their catalog.

Thank-you! for the contact information and oregon is comfortably close to home.

Black pussy willow is Salix gracilistyla 'Melanostachys.' I have one in front of the house, so you know it is hardy to Zone 5. I have seen it used for bonsai, but after my bad luck with 'Rokkakudo,' I am reluctant to try it.
Iris

I like willows, always have so it was natural when I began bonsai, I want to do some willow. In a nutshell, I've given up on all large, big leafed varieties, except S. matsudana. The Golden Curls adds a nice splash of gold to the garden in winter. For bonsai though, I like the dwarf varieties, particularly the Salix purpurea Nana and Salix polaris. Both will form very nice broom style tops in only a few seasons. For weeping style willow trees the Salix purpurea Pendula is a good choice. Salix retusa is a dwarf from the Eur. Alps and Salix repens nitida is a dwarf silver willow. All these can make nice weeping willow style bonsai as well as just about anything you can imagine. The big willows have a good place as backdrops in the garden, providing shade in the summer and color in the winter. I have golden curls, red osier dogwood, purple willows, coral bark maple, some blues from the Boulavard Cypress and the Port Orfords are blue this time of year. Some black pussy willow would be a nice accent.

I began to question my field growing willows, and my interest in a few other trees that I wanted to lift and work with this spring..that was until I saw that S. Babylonica at Noelanders, and my faith was restored!
-Jay

Hi jay, you mean the Ramshorn? Beautiful trees, I'd do 'er for sure!

Dick,

It just so happens that the new issue of International BONSAI, 2012/NO. 1 has a three page illustrated article on training small Pussy Willow bonsai! This issue also includes a new series by Masahiko Kimura working on refining a bonsai, not carving or working on material which is not easily available outside of the US.

The magazine is in the mail.

Bill

thanks for the heads up! looking forward to seeing that copy in my mailbox soon

dick benbow wrote:thanks for the heads up! looking forward to seeing that copy in my mailbox soon

I may be poking around for that particular copy in May when I come up for the open house. Information regarding Bonsai treatment of any willow species seems hard to come by.

-Jay

Hey Jay, i got the issue of Bills magazine a week or so ago and the article is amazing. I just talked to my mother who is at a Philadelphia flower show and found the Salix gracilistyla which is the tree that is in the article. Hope your trees are doing great and to see you in may at the open house. Or for sure at the nationals.

Neil

Neil Jaeger wrote:Hey Jay, i got the issue of Bills magazine a week or so ago and the article is amazing. I just talked to my mother who is at a Philadelphia flower show and found the Salix gracilistyla which is the tree that is in the article. Hope your trees are doing great and to see you in may at the open house. Or for sure at the nationals.

Neil

I'll definitely be after that edition as I have some excellent pussy willow on my land from which to collect thick branches. We will hopefully see each other both in May and at the nationals my friend. Don't forget you owe us a picture of that Satsuki you bought once it blooms.
-Jay

drgonzo wrote:

Neil Jaeger wrote:Hey Jay, i got the issue of Bills magazine a week or so ago and the article is amazing. I just talked to my mother who is at a Philadelphia flower show and found the Salix gracilistyla which is the tree that is in the article. Hope your trees are doing great and to see you in may at the open house. Or for sure at the nationals.

Neil

I'll definitely be after that edition as I have some excellent pussy willow on my land from which to collect thick branches. We will hopefully see each other both in May and at the nationals my friend. Don't forget you owe us a picture of that Satsuki you bought once it blooms.
-Jay

Yes, cant wait to see those flowers. Good to hear from you.

Neil

Well, after seeing that article, I guess I will try the black pussy willow. It is listed for Zone 5, but I recall the one I had in the backyard died. This one is in a sheltered corner facing southwest. It should be in bloom right now. If anyone in the Syracuse area wants to try a cutting, let me know. It is not that hard to get. I think most of the mail order nurseries carry it.

I'm still looking for a pink or black available at a local nursery. so far no luck but there is a spring fair at the fairgrounds that I hopeful to maybe find somewhere to get something to work on in mid april.

Soon as i heard the subject was being addressed with Bill's magazine, I ordered immediately and was told it was in the mail that day. that was 3 weeks ago.

I have a friend that has half a dozen of each color that he's been working on them for several years. The trunks and movement is nice, but with heavy pruning during training the pussywillows are not making an appearance.
Unfortunately he found them at a local nursery that went out of business.

Have you tried Greer Gardens or Forestfarm? If Monrovia has it, they will tell you the nearest local nursery that carries it.
Iris

thank-you Iris, i'll look into your leads

well it's been a few months since i started this thread but finally got my hands on one of each. a pink and a black.

I helped a person all day getting a kabudachi style quince and beech forest cleaned up and ready for a show in August and was gifted as a thank you with one of each.

So I'm gonna stage them up into a bigger pot and get a little growth out of them this summer. I was told which one was which but have forgottrn. One has a thinner leaf then the other. Both were starts from mother plants and have been prunned more for shape then being allowed to "bloom".