ellen Salix caprea ‘pendula’ – Silvery-pinkish catkins, weeping form, dwarf
zone 4-9
height 5-6 feet
Perfect for a city yard, and a true sign of Spring. This hardy little ornamental is a charmer with plentiful catkins. Plant it in a spot with full sun and less than great drainage. This tree needs water daily, so mulching is wise to keep the ground damp. 
To Prune (winter is best according to JPR Environmental )
- taking off older branches,
- those that cross over other branches,
- those that are coming from the main stem (that’s the rootstock and not the weeping willow),
- as well as any vertical seeking branches.
- all of this above should be about 1/3 of the new growth.
- about every 4 years, prune the branches 4/5 back to the main stem for new growth, since new growth is where catkins are abundant.
Weeping Pussy Willow is a graceful ornamental, but it does take some care. I’ll be transplanting mine outside once it’s Spring!
I bought one of these weeping willows too. Beautiful, but now all the blooms are gone and the leaves are coming. My instruction says to “cut back to within two inches of the stem allowing new branches to come for the following year.” I’m not sure what they mean by this. I live in Vancouver, BC. What do you suggest?
Thanks
Shar
Pruning this tree back is a must to keep it in shape. I suggest this coming winter prune up to a third of the branches back like your instructions suggest. If the plant gets out of control during the growing season, there’s no fear of cutting back some in summer. Please let me know if I can offer up anymore suggestions. This week, I’ll talk more about the art of pruning.
I gave my mom a WPW for Mother’s Day , she did not take care of it. She threw it in the trash. I “rescued” this dead, and very dry tree. I put it on my porch, and watered it everyday. Before long, not only did it come back to life, it grew double in size. The tag on the tree said to bring it in for the first winter, so I did. I live in a condo so I planting it outside is not an option. I will be putting it back on my porch in the spring. So my question is, how long can I keep the WPW in a pot? No, my mom will not get it back.
I think keeping it in a pot is perfect. It may need some serious pruning though. I’d also check each year to make sure the roots aren’t bound. This can happen with potted plants. Taking it out and cutting through the roots some and planting in a larger container will revive the root system.
They’re tough to kill. I’m surprised your mom almost accomplished that!!!
I have purchase 4 of these trees. They start off looking lovely,, then the leaves come out and they are beautiful ! Then the tips of the shoots turn gray and die. It’s heartbreaking. What could be happening?
Kathleen,
I’m not sure. What zone are you in? So far this little tree needs lots of pruning, but I’ve had no problems with greying and dying. Is it outside in a sunny spot? Does it get plenty of water? Trees need extra care the first years of their lives.
I hope you try again and with more happy outcomes.
Ellen
I recently bought a table top minature Weeping Pussy Willow and it started to grow lots of little branches but all of a sudden the leaves have started to turn brown. Can you please tell me why this is happening I really love the plant and would be sad if it dies on me? I keep the soil moist.
Possibly could be that the plant isn’t getting enough light. They like full sun, but can do alright in light shade. Most times our house, even in a sunny southern or eastern window won’t provide 6-8 hours of sun required for “full sun.” Another factor to consider is if it’s too close to a heat source. Good Luck, perhaps it would be nice to transplant it outdoors this Spring. Most only reach a height of 4 feet, which is great as a little accent in a spring bulb garden.
I have a weeping pussy willow for several years. the first year it bloomed beautifully. Now it has very few blooms. I did not know about pruning it. should I take all the dead branches off under the other ones that have leaves later in the season? Should I also cut them back so they are shorter and closer to the tree trunk? Should I fertilize it?
yes yes yes. All of those. My tree gets very tangled, so I prune twice a year at least. Adding compost is a great way to fertilize without chemicals.
I want to buy one of these miniatures and can’t find a place that sells them. I had one that I got at a Wegman’s store last year and it was damaged this spring. Can anyone help me out???
I got mine from Trader Joe’s of all places, one winter. I had it inside until all danger of frost had past and then transplanted it outdoors to a sunny spot. Several nurseries sell them. Just do a search online. Good luck!
I just bought mini weeping willow which is already 12 inch and 5 years old.It looks very healthy, long branches with coming green leaves. I do not know what to do with it? Should I prune the long branches right away? Should I put this plant in the planter outside or Should I plant it in the ground already? I live in CT in Glastonbury.
If you’ve got a nice spot for the little tree, I’d put him outside.
I bought mine from Home Depot. It looks so beautiful in my new small garden next to my house. It is a great accent piece.
The Lavendar twist rosebud is also a great small ornamental tree to plant near the house.It also only grow to about 6 feet with pink flowers.
I purchased two pussys this spring and planted them on the same side of the house about 30 feet apart (balanced effect). When I planted them I used a root stimulator and placed Miracle grow soil around them. One is doing well but the second one not so. The leaves are turning grey and are drying. Any suggestions?
Is it winter kill? did they go through the winter outside?
no, I just put it outside a week ago and now it has all these green leaves.
I bought my table top weeping pussy willow at Home Depot
it has lots of green leaves now, I’m not sure if I should cut all the green of.
My little tree is also having the same experience with leaves drying. It’s in full sun so … I’m thinking that after trimming the branches of 6 or so inches, I’ll repot and put it outdoors in a well-lit spot with no direct sunlight.
I put my WPW in my yard 5 years ago, I live in Central New York. Pruned it a year or so ago and I got these long branches that grew up. We cut them off this summer. I now have new shoots growing up so what I am trying is bending them under the old branches to get them to grow down. So how could I fix the tree so it grows down.
How long are you letting the branches get? They should start to bend.
I live in Saskatchewan, Canada, winters get really cold here, if I transplant m tree outside will it survive the winter
I’m not sure what your zone is, but the weeping pussy willow is only hardy to zone 4.
Just got my wpw for mothers day.live in zone 5-6.Plan to put outside for summer.Should I bring in this winter?Also when do I prune?
Gradually put it outdoors for a few hours a day, to harden it off. By three days, leave it out longer, transplant after a week or so. Transplanting is hard for a plant. Let it get acclimated over the summer, prune mid summer to shape, and you should be good.
Good Luck!
Hi I have had my wpt for 3 weeks live in NC it gets full sun and water every day the leaves are turning brown and looks like it trying to die what can I do to save it
Is it in a pot, perhaps it’s too small of a container. Trying moving it to part shade, water and fertilize? Until it’s back on it’s feet.
If the bottom is growing shoots does that mean the top of the miniature willow is still alive? No leaves yet but it looks like there are buds.I left it outside in a pot all winter in zone 5. Could it just be very slow?
It may have suffered from this cold winter, esp. if it was in a pot. You can try your luck at seeing how it comes back, but if it’s not looking how you want, I’d get another and try getting it in the ground before winter.
I just received a WPW as a gift. The plant is 12 inches tall and is flowering now. Would it be safe to plant it outside now or should I keep it indoors through the next winter? Also, about how tall will this tree grow? I’ve seen conflicting info. Some articles say up to 6-8 feet while others 4-6 feet.
I would put it in the ground now. The tree varies in mature height. Mine is about 3ft and four years old? I’ve seen some that are 6ft. You can never tell.
What fertilizer do you guys recommend and how often.
Live in San Diego.
Thank you!
I use compost that comes straight from my kitchen and garden. Vermicompost is great, worm castings. If that’s out of reach, try Espoma. They’ve got great organic plant food.
I got a weeping pussy willow for mothers day. We planted it in the yard with all day sun. I live in the eastern side of North Carolina, just 7 miles east of I 95. I make sure it has lots of water, good soil, and I feed it. Now, it is what looks like burning at the ends of the stems. They are dying and turning brown. Should I trim it back now? Maybe, cove it from the harsh sun? What can I do to save this little beauty. I read where you said not to put near a heat source. We planted ours around a metal wheelchair ramp, could this be the problem?
It could be getting burned from the metal ramp, depending on how close it is. I would suggest pruning the burned parts. Since it is newly transplanted, this little guy does need some extra care. Perhaps giving it a little shade in the middle of the day (if possible) could help. Too much heat and light in the afternoon may just be putting him over the edge.
does anyone know where I can buy a mini weeping
pussywillow? I put miracle grow on mine and it looks like it
is dead-all of the leaves crinkled up on it
My tree is about 20 inches high
Any help would be appreciated
thsnk you
I got mine during the early Spring from Trader Joes here in Chicago. I quick google search, and you’ll probably find a nursery that sells them. Good Luck!
Could someone tell me if they bought theirs online, what site
they used?
I have searched online with no luck.
I bought a weeping pussy willow last year. The leaves dried up and fell off but there were a lot of flowers. This year the leaves came back and the tree was begining to look great. Overnight the tree has curled up leaves and some are lacey as if a bug is eating it. What can I do to stop this?
Try applying neem oil. It’s an organic solution for bug/fungus/bacterial issues. Sounds like something is having a feast. Read the packaging carefully or ask the garden center how the specific product you buy is to be applied. Spray on early morning or after dusk.
I bought two of these trees, read all about them and they were the most difficult plants I have had. One just dropped its leaves and died, the other was eaten by Japanese beetles so I brought it inside. Then it got mealybugs and finally the leaves curled up and it died, even thought I treated it. Never again.
I’m sorry to hear that you had so much trouble. Sometimes it’s the source, when there are pests involved. Other dwarf trees might prove a better fit, some sort of conifer? Good luck.
I have a French pussy willow tree and am afraid to plant it in our yard because of willows invasive root systems. Can I keep it in a pot permanately and can I leave it outside all winter (southern Wisconsin) ?
You can keep it in a pot, but I would move it into a basement or garage for the majority of the winter, after a few freezes and the tree goes dormant. Things in pots don’t overwinter well. Sometimes the snow and water just makes an ice pack and it will kill the plant.
I live in a small town in Tennessee I got mine
at a greocery store in town
I have a similar situation as Laura (way back in post 9). Each year, I seem to get fewer blooms on my weeping pussy willow. It is blooming a little bit now. Is there anything I can or should do now–very beginning of spring–to improve this? Would pruning now, before there are leaves, be a bad idea? I think there are a lot of dead(?) branches on the underside. If they are not blooming, do I know they are dead?
This plant needs pruning, but I’d wait until after it leafs out. It isn’t an easy plant to prune either. You should try to get the dead undergrowth out, and then cut back enough of the top growth that the plant is shaped nicely. I tend to get catkins on the newest branches the following year.
Hello: I just got my WPW it’s in a bowl and it is about 12 inches in height,. The instructions say to keep inside first winter,, then plant in spring. Others say just plant it right away, what is your opinion? thanks very much
It can live outside in a container this year til fall, and you could bring it in this first year’s winter. I think they are pretty tough plants, so if you want less hassle in watering, stick it in the ground this spring.
My daughter works for a florist and just gave me one. I have planted it in a larger planter and put it outside. We live in a townhome and there is no room for planting it in the ground. I will bring it in in the winter. I would guess I have to bring it in before the first frost, right? I live about 25 miles south of Joliet, IL
It can take a frost, hardy to zone 4. I’d leave it outside in a protected area for the winter. Without the cold, I’m doubtful it will produce catkins.
I just bought 2 little trees marked Canadian Pink Pussy Willow at walmart. The picture shows them weeping, but the tree itself is not. Am I to train the branches to turn down?… is there a certain way to prune them? There was no instruction on the Tree info card.
Thanks for any help you can give!
I’m not sure, perhaps the graft isn’t correct or the picture on the card is wrong. You shouldn’t have to train the branches, weeping will be weeping. Pruning for the weeping pussy willow should be done after flowering (around early summer). Remove undergrowth branches and then shape to your liking.
My 2+ yr old wpw tree has green branches that are cool to the touch and green, had pussy willows this spring, but no leaves coming out. I’m worried about it. I love this tree. It was gorgeous last year and the winter was less harsh than the one before. Any suggestions? Minneapolis area.
Are the branches suckers? Perhaps a nice early summer pruning will help.
I bought a beautiful 4ft high, nice full WPW last year and put in my south facing yard in SW North Dakota zone 4b. It did wonderfully! This spring it got cattails on it in May and then we had 2 nights of just at freezing temps in early June and now it appears dead. The root ball that it’s grafted to is putting out suckers wildly. I have cut them back a couple of times water it regularly. It still has no leaves. Is there any saving it? Should I have covered it when we had the late frost? I am heartbroken.
If the new growth is coming off the root, you may want to consider getting a new one. This new growth will most likely not be the grafted Weeping Pussy Willow you want.
I am surprised that it didn’t make it.
I got a WPW as a gift and watered it sporadically for a few weeks. I noticed wilting leaves and watered more often but inspected branches and found spider mites all around the crown. I sprayed it with insect soap and put it outside but a breeze that day seems to have crisped the leaves or something. Most have fallen off but some are still firmly attached but look dry and dead. There seem to be tiny fuzzy buds here and there but I can’t tell if these are new or petrified. I keep watering it though my family makes fun of me for watering a stick. Would almost complete defoliation be enough to kill the tree for good and how can i check to see if there’s enough life left to make a comeback?
All plants that are growing inside, whether they have a disease issue or not, need to have a slow adjustment to outdoors. It shocks the system to be brought outside without a gradual introduction. Read here for more info.
I would keep watering and see how it goes. This plant had a severe infestation and then had to adjust to outside quickly. It needs time to heal. Keep watering and keep out of extreme afternoon sun. You could also try giving it some organic fertilzer or compost.
Good luck, I hope it survives!