Pussy Willow (Salix discolor) is a narrow shrub or small tree to 20 ft. with multiple trunks and dark-gray, scaly bark. An early herald of spring, the Pussy Willow’s silky catkins open well before other spring blooms. The flowers, conspicuous because they bloom on bare stems before leaves appear, are an important source of pollen for native bees and other pollinators very early in the season. The blue-green leaves are a larval food source for Mourning Cloak and Viceroy butterflies.