Salix caprea

Pussy willow is in the willow or Salicaceae family and is native to Eurasia, but is naturalized in parts of Eastern North America. It is a large shrub or small tree that typically grows to up to 8 m tall and to 4 m wide.

• Leaves are simple, alternate, broad elliptic to oblong, up to 12 cm long, dark green above, gray-hairy below.
• Species is dioecious. Both males and females produce small dangling catkins.
• Seed structures are shaped like miniature red peppers, drying out to release the seeds on fluffy fibers that are the vehicle for the seeds being dispersed in the wind.
• This is the most important species of diamond willow if you are a carver!