AboutTom Alonzo Expertise I have been growing plants from seeds for at least 20 years. I have grown literally hundreds of different kinds of vegetables, trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials, tropicals, some cacti, water plants, iris, rose, lilies, cannas, etc. I enjoy starting from seed.
Experience I've been growing my own seeds for 20 years with indoor propagation equipment I built myself. I am also an Allexperts volunteer on the perennial forum. I have completed the Master Gardener course through the Kansas State University Extension. I have experience with a wide variety of seeds and I have also read through Norm Deno's books on seed germination.
Question We rooted a pussy willow tree about 4 years ago. It is about 8ft tall now. However it does not produce pussy willows. What should we do? Do we need a male and a female tree? How do we tell which one we already have? Thank you for your help.
Answer Hi Tara,
Pussy willows have male and female trees. The term for that is dioecious. Are you pruning your trees? Pruning should only be done while the catkins are visible. You may be inadvertantly removing the wood that will produce the catkins if you are pruning in summer, fall or early winter. Is the tree in dense shade? While they will tolerate some shade, even like it, they don't tolerate dense shade. Are you positive this is tree is from a pussy willow cutting? Sorry, just thought I should ask. The tree also requires moist soil because they originate alongside waterways and ponds. I hope this helps.
Tom
