Black Pussy Willow, Melanostachy's

[catfish chapstick]

I really want to like willows. I don't seem to have any problem growing them. This one I picked up because I liked the trunk form.

I cut lots of roots and lots of branches. stuffed it into this bonsai pot with mostly pumice. A full year later and its chugging along.

not sure where I'm going with it but it takes well to pruning and wiring. Any ideas?

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Fertilize the heck out of it, and defoliate it several times each summer. They are really strong trees and they will tend to throw rough leggy growth if you don't develop ramification and keep the tree from running away on you. If you defoliate (without pruning) you should still have flower blooms for next spring.