The are many varieties of pussy willow.  I do not know the name of the one in our gardens but I am sure it is pretty common. The trees/bushes in the photo to the right were each three years ago, each from a single stem we rooted just as described above.  I received pieces of  a cork screw looking pussy willow in a floral arrangement a few weeks ago.  I stuck it in a glass of water and it quickly sprouted roots.  I now have four stems rooted and sprouting leaves planted in containers in my front window that I will plant in the gardens in May. 

If you keep a pussy willow cut back it looks more like a tall bush.  If allowed to grow they can reach 20-30 feet!  "To keep the trees at a manageable height for harvesting stems in the spring, keep them trimmed back.  You will be rewarded with long stems the following spring.  Heavy pruning (all the way to the ground) also stimulates more vigorous growth, which results in larger catkins. 

However desirable for the above reasons, heavy annual pruning may also produce a somewhat rangy-looking plant. If your willow is positioned in a prominent location, so that appearance is important, prune out a third of the oldest wood each year. Older wood is more susceptible to disease and pest problems. Prune just before the leaves come out, in late winter or early spring." Do it Yourself .com.   According to the Master Beekeepers at Cornell University, pussy willow is great early spring honeybee food!