Problematic black pussywillows

Sooty catkins of black pussy willow, Salix melanostachys.

I was trying to find more information about black pussywillows, but was blocked by my browser for "adult content"... which is a completely reverse situation experienced by all those people searching the Internet for "naked ladies next door" who land on my blog post about Colchicums, showing pictures of prudish looking pink flowers. What a surprise it must be for them... I need to choose my blog post titles a bit more carefully, I guess.

Anyway, I spotted these black pussywillows at the Washington Park Arboretum. Originally from Japan, they are rare and unusual, which is reason enough to make them desirable for many gardeners. I've seen them in recommended plant lists of many publications during the last couple of years; another reason for that might be that they fit into the garden trend of all things black, from flowers, planters to furniture and built structures.

The small catkins of black pussywillows look quite exquisite combined with other early spring bloomers like witch-hazels, winter honeysuckles and Cornelian cherries. Like many other flowers and plants called black, the scales of their catkins are actually very dark purple. As they age, their anthers turn from brick-red to yellow, which makes a dramatic contrast with the sooty scales. Just like other black plants and flowers, black catkins disappear almost completely into a dark background, so a back-lit position is needed for them to come to their right.

The black pussywillow is a plant that appeals to my appetite for the unusual and unexpected. But lacking the lustrous, glossy hair of their white colored cousins, these black scaly ones look a bit scorched, and it is easy to walk past thinking that the plant is damaged or diseased in some strange way. If I'm completely honest, like many other curiosities of the plant world, they do look best in close-up photos. Still, given the opportunity, I would happily add one to my garden, if then only to provide another discussion item for my gardening friends...

For those with similar browser problems, Arnold Arboretum provides an excellent little plant information document with details about growing black pussywillows.