Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A deciduous North American shrub or small tree (Salix discolor) having large silky catkins.
  • noun Any of several willows similar to this plant.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A common American willow, Salix discolor, producing in earliest spring catkins that are very silky when young.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun small willow of eastern North America having greyish leaves and silky catkins that come before the leaves
  • noun much-branched Old World willow having large catkins and relatively large broad leaves

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  • "Pussy Willow may refer to two species of willow:

    Salix caprea (also known as Goat Willow), native to northern Europe and northwest Asia.

    Salix discolor (also known as American Pussy Willow), native to northern North America.

    When grown comercially by florists, the shoots are picked just as the buds expand in spring, and can last indefinitely once dried. The branches can be put in vases or the buds can be used for table decoration."

    January 25, 2008