Leaves & needles
Broadly oval, wrinkled above and grey-felted beneath; the pointed tip often bends sideways.
UK nativeDeciduousTypical height 6–12 m
Goat willow
Salix caprea
A small native willow with broad leaves and silvery pussy-willow catkins before the spring foliage.
THROUGH THE YEAR
Goat willow through the seasons
A rounded, somewhat irregular crown of broad leaves.
Foliage turns dull yellow before falling.
Broad branching framework; plump buds swell into early pussy catkins.
Typical open-grown form. Leaf fall varies with weather and location; young or clipped trees may retain dead leaves. Pruned, sheltered and young trees can look different.
LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER
How to identify goat willow
Bark
Grey-brown, developing diamond-shaped fissures as the trunk ages.
Twigs
Stout, initially hairy shoots become smoother; colour ranges from greenish-brown to reddish.
Buds
Rounded, hairless green-brown buds with a single cap-like scale.
Flowers & pollen
Silvery male pussy catkins turn yellow with pollen; female catkins are slimmer and green.
Fruit, seeds & cones
Female catkins develop into capsules that release minute, fluffy seeds.
Typical flowering: Mar, Apr. Weather and location change timing.
Images show typical features and are not to scale. Confirm several features using the reference sources below.
CARE WITH PURPOSE
Caring for goat willow
Help it thrive
Adaptable, including to damp sites. Allow room for its spreading roots and crown, and water newly planted trees in dry weather.
Pruning advice
Use selective branch removal to maintain structure. Repeated severe reduction produces vigorous regrowth and needs a planned maintenance cycle.
When can it be pruned?
June–August for assessed tree work
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Highlighted months are an indicative window for the work described, not a reason to prune every year. An unshaded month is not an absolute ban.
Timing must suit the tree's health, weather, wildlife and legal protection. Avoid severe frost, drought and vulnerable new leaf growth. Mature trees, major branches and suspected defects need professional assessment.
Tree health: what to watch for
Identification & care references
Guide researched November 2026. Identification remains provisional until several features agree. UK native means native in some part of the UK, not necessarily your area.
Before work in England, check tree preservation orders, conservation-area restrictions and wildlife protection. Official tree protection guidance ↗