Goat willow (Salix caprea)

Goat willow (Salix caprea) is a shrub that can grow 8m – 15m tall and 3m – 8m wide.

This plant has several common names including: goat willow, pussy willow, florist’s willow, great sallow, Kilmarnock willow, Northamptonshire palm, palm willow, sallow or sally.

This is a deciduous plant that takes 20-50 years to reach full maturity.

Plant profile

Common name: goat willow, pussy willow, florist’s willow, great sallow, Kilmarnock willow, Northamptonshire palm, palm willow, sallow, sally
Scientific name: Salix caprea
Plant type: Shrubs
Habit: Bushy
Height: 8m – 15m
Spread: 3m – 8m
Foliage: Deciduous
Sunlight: Full Sun
Soil: Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Moist but well drained, Poorly drained
Garden type: Coastal, Wildlife Gardens
Planting type: Hedging & Screens, Low Maintenance
Other characteristics: Plants for pollinators

Seasonal colors

How to plant Goat willow (Salix caprea) – Hladac, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Cultivation profiles – Growing Goat willow (Salix caprea) – Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons