Salix gracilistyla

Rose-gold pussy willow is in the willow or Salicaceae family and is native to to Japan, Korea and China. It is a multi-stemmed shrub growing to up to 3 m tall.

The cultivar 'Melanostachys', is known as black pussy willow and is cultivated for its jet-black male and female catkins in early spring.

• Leaves are ovate, finely toothed, up to 10 cm long, dark green above and silver green below.
• Species is dioecious. Male and female catkins are wet black in colour, blooming in March-April before leaves come out. Male catkins are plumper and showier, up to 4 cm long, black bodies with red anthers that turn yellow with pollen.
• Stems are green to reddish brown. Buds have a single bud scale that can sit on the catkin like a peaked cap.