Goat Willow Plants

• Variety: Goat Willow, the native Pussy Willow with silver catkins
• Latin name: Salix caprea
• Sold as: Bareroot, 60/80cm
• Use: Screening, windbreaks, woodland and wildlife planting
• Mature size: 8 to 12m tall and 4 to 8m wide if left, in 10 to 20 years. Kept far smaller by cutting
• Growth: Fast
• Native: Yes
• Catkins: Silver-grey, in spring before the leaves. Male catkins turn gold with pollen. These plants are raised from seed, so each may be male or female
• Best soil and site: Deep, moist soil that drains, in full sun. Copes with ordinary soil better than most willows. Dislikes shallow chalk
• Wildlife: RHS Plants for Pollinators
• Hardiness: H6, hardy through the British winter
• Delivered: Bareroot, November to April. Collection from Castle Cary also available

Goat Willow is the native Pussy Willow: a fast, tough small tree with oval leaves and silver-grey catkins in spring, before the leaves, which are an early feast for bees. It copes with ordinary soil better than most willows, and it makes a quick screen or windbreak.

Goat Willow Sapling Trees

Goat Willow trees, Salix caprea, are one of the Pussy Willows, which have fluffy silver catkins which appear in early spring, while the branches are still bare, and have a lovely silver, silky coating of hairs before they ripen. These are great for bees and Salix caprea is well known for being a favourite with many species of caterpillar. The goat moth also lays its eggs around the trunk of this tree. Goat Willow is unlike other willow trees, with its oval leaves and its ability to grow on drier soil than most willows. It also doesn't propagate well from cuttings (these are grown from seed). It can be grown as a screening tree up to about 8-12 metres high. It's a decent windbreak tree.

See our selection of willow hedging plants or view our full range of hedging.

Goat Willow plants are only delivered bareroot, during winter (Nov-April). All of our young trees and shrubs are measured by their height in centimetres above the ground (the roots aren't measured).

Common Names: Goat Willow, Great Sallow

History & Trivia

Salix caprea means Goat willow and this name probably comes from an illustration in a famous "herbal" (an old name for a book on plants) by Hieronymus Bock, published in 1546. The picture showed a goat grazing on the tree and this book was still around when the tree came to be named with the modern system over 200 years later. It seems likely that this was the inspiration for the name, rather than the tree being especially popular with goats, who are known to eat almost anything.

It is native to Britain and to much of Europe.

Planting Companions

Grey Willow is its near twin, and the one for wetter ground. Hazel gives you catkins at the same time of year, and on really wet soil you can add Alder. See all our native hedging. Dust bareroot roots with Rootgrow as you plant.

Why Ashridge for Native Trees?

Hedging and young native trees are not a sideline here: your Goat Willow plants are grown for us by specialist growers. Bareroot plants are lifted to order while dormant and guaranteed for 12 months. Ashridge has sold plants since 1949 and is a Which? Best Plant Supplier 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Goat Willow the same as Pussy Willow?

Yes. Goat Willow and Grey Willow are both sold as Pussy Willow, for their soft, silver-grey catkins. In the north it is also called Palm Willow, because it stands in for palm on Palm Sunday.

Will every plant have the fluffy catkins?

The showy catkins that turn gold are on male plants. Ours are raised from seed, so you cannot tell which you have until they flower. Female catkins are longer and green.

Can you weave with Goat Willow?

No. Its twigs are brittle, so it is the one willow you cannot weave with. Osier is the weaving willow. Goat Willow makes excellent charcoal instead.

How big does Goat Willow grow?

The RHS gives it 8 to 12 metres tall and 4 to 8 metres wide in 10 to 20 years if you leave it. You can keep it far smaller by cutting it back.

How close to a house can you plant it?

Keep any willow at least 10 metres from drains and buildings, and 15 metres if you can. Its roots go looking for water.

Does it need wet soil?

No. It likes deep, moist soil, but it copes with ordinary garden soil better than most willows. The RHS notes that it dislikes shallow chalk.

When are the plants delivered?

Bareroot only, from November to April, while the plants are dormant. You can order at any time of year and your plants are lifted and sent once the season opens.