The Fuzzy Plant In Your Yard That Hummingbirds Love For Nest-Building

In many parts of North America, the return of hummingbirds is a sure sign of spring. Once they arrive, the little birds will quickly get to work mating and building their nests in preparation for laying eggs and raising young. If you love watching hummingbirds, you likely set out a feeder or plant flower bulbs to help attract them each season.

One additional way to encourage these feathered friends to visit is by growing nest-building materials for them. One of their favorite nest-building materials, the pussy willow (Salix discolor) shrub or tree, is another classic springtime plant.

That's right! Pussy willows, the adorable plants that you may already be growing for their distinctive and fuzzy catkins, are also loved by hummingbirds. The little birds use the downy fluff of the catkins — which are actually flowers — to help build their nests. Hummingbirds often return to the same nesting areas every year, so once they realize that your yard is full of pussy willow shrubs, they're sure to come back again and again.

Pussy willow thrives in part shade to full sun, and while these plants benefit from well-draining soil, it's important that their growing medium also remains moist. While there is some variation depending on the type you grow, many pussy willows are hardy in zones 4 through 8. 

As their name suggests, pussy willows are types of willows. While they don't tend to reach the same heights of some willow trees, many species and cultivars can still be about 25 feet tall. So if yours is beginning to outgrow its space, you can trim back your pussy willow trees to shrub height after they finish flowering for the year. Waiting until after the catkins finish flowering should also give your local hummingbirds plenty of time to collect any nesting material they may want.

If you're trying to make your yard a native wildlife habitat, North American pussy willow species are a perfect addition. They won't just benefit the hummingbirds, either. The American pussy willow is also a host plant for viceroy butterflies and is beloved by many native bee species.