Up to 6 m tall. Easy to grow in full to part sun, prefers moist to wet soil and is suitable for wetland edges or riverbanks. 
Willows are ecological powerhouses. They are the most critical source of ample early-season nectar! Female bees prefer visiting the male flowers since they produce nectar and pollen. Willows have evolved specialized relations to many species of mining bees that can provision their brood cells only with pollen from willows. 
After oaks, willows support the most caterpillar species as a larval host, namely 427 different species of moths and butterflies, including the Mourning Cloak butterfly and the Green Comma butterfly. Willows offer overwintering sites for butterflies that overwinter as adults. Songbirds prey on the abundant caterpillars and visiting bees to rear their young.
Many songbirds, like goldfinches, prefer pussy willows as nesting sites.
Hummingbirds and yellow warblers line their nest with soft fluff.
The silvery catkins look great in floral arrangements.
 
Image https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Silk666