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Salix caprea (Goat willow)

Other names: Pussy willow, Sally, Palm willow, Florists willow, Great sallow, Sallow, Northamptonshire palm

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Species
S. caprea is a deciduous shrub or small tree with broad leaves and soft silky, silvery catkins, produced in early spring before the new leaves appear. The male and female catkins are on different plants.
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Season of interest

Flower

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Flower

Foliage

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Foliage
Height and spread

Height and spread

Size Max height Max spread To maturity
12 m 8 m 20-50 years
39 ft 26 ft 20-50 years

Where to grow

Soil type
  • Clay
  • Loamy
  • Sandy
Soil drainage
  • Moist but well-drained
  • Well-drained
Soil pH
  • Acid
  • Alkaline
  • Neutral
Sunlight
  • Full Sun
Aspect
  • East
  • West
  • South
  • North
Exposure
  • Exposed
  • Sheltered

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Additional plant details

Cultivation

Plant in moist but well-drained or well-drained soil in full sun. Dislikes shallow chalk soil.

Suggested uses

Coastal, Hedging/Screens, Low Maintenance, Wildlife

UK hardiness

H6

USDA zones

Zone 2, Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9, Zone 10

Sunset zone

2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

WUCOLS

North-Central Coastal = Unknown
Central Valley = Unknown
South Coastal = Unknown
South Inland = Unknown
High and Intermediate Desert = Unknown
Low Desert = Unknown

Foliage

Deciduous

Habit

Rounded

Native to

Europe, Great Britain, Western Asia

Drought tolerant

No

Flood tolerant

Yes

Toxicity

Not toxic

Plant care

Pruning

Can be pollarded every 3-4 years.

Propagation methods

Hardwood cuttings, Softwood cuttings

Pests

Aphids

Caterpillars

Sawflies

Leaf beetles (willow and poplar)

Diseases

Rust

Anthracnose diseases

Selective pruning only (only if needed)

Take hardwood cuttings in autumn and winter

Take softwood cuttings

Plant container grown plants in moderately fertile, well-drained soil

Plant container grown plants in a sunny postion

Other plants

Plants in this Genus (0)

Salix

Companion plants (1)

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Cornus alba 'Sibirica'
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Cornus alba 'Sibirica' Siberian dogwood
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Related content

Discuss Salix caprea with other Shoot members

Salix caprea

Shoot User
789 0
Closely related is the grey sallow Salix cinerea, which has smaller, more oblong leaves. Like the many other members of the willow family, both are a valuable source of nectar for insects in the early spring, and support more kinds of moth than any species of tree other than oak and birch.
Posted: Friday 22nd of May 2009 06:47 PM Last reply: Saturday 1st of March 2025 12:43 AM

Salix caprea

Shoot User
697 0
Pussy willow or goat willow is a small, many stemmed, deciduous tree or shrub. Closely related is the grey sallow Salix cinerea, which has smaller, more oblong leaves. Like the many other members of the willow family, both are a valuable source of nectar for insects in the early spring, and support more kinds of moth than any species of tree other than oak and birch.
Posted: Thursday 14th of May 2009 04:39 PM Last reply: Saturday 1st of March 2025 12:36 AM
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