Where European pussy willow is modest and familiar, Salix chaenomeloides is extravagant. The catkins are noticeably larger — up to three inches — and the silver coloring carries a pink warmth that is unusual in the genus. They emerge from glossy red buds beginning in late winter, weeks before most ornamentals stir, which gives this Chinese, Korean, and Japanese native an outsized role in the late-February and early-March garden. The vigorous growth rate means cut branches are available in quantity for arrangements without diminishing the plant.

Grow in full sun on moist to wet, mildly acidic to neutral soil. It tolerates sandy, loam, and clay with equal willingness, making soil preparation largely unnecessary, and it withstands heavy pruning without protest — an advantage for anyone who wants to manage size or harvest cutting material annually. Cold hardiness is solid in zones 6 through 8. Unlike many members of the genus, no significant disease or insect problems have been documented, which is a notable distinction in a family otherwise prone to a long list of pests.