Goat willow
Salix caprea · Salicaceae
📷 Kurt Stüber [1] · CC BY-SA 3.0
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around goat willow and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Common name
- Pussy willow
- Family
- Salicaceae
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- March to April (silvery catkins)
- Adult size
- Up to 8 m in height
- Growth
- Fast
- Hardiness
- Very hardy (down to -20 °C)
- Exposure
- Full sun to partial shade
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Establish it near water or in permanently moist soil. The early yellow catkins are highly visible but disappear quickly—this is normal.
The common mistake
Planting it in dry or compacted soil: pussy willow suffers from both poor drainage and extreme drought, you need to strike a balance.
The pro's trick
During flowering (March), cut the catkins with about 30 cm of wood: they last 2-3 weeks in a vase of water—stunning for decoration.
Care
Exposure
Pussy willow appreciates full sun for generous flowering and a compact structure. It tolerates partial shade well, although catkin production will be less abundant. Avoid overly windy areas that could weaken its branches.
Watering
Water regularly during the first year after planting to promote root establishment. Once established, pussy willow tolerates normal moisture conditions well and only needs supplemental watering during prolonged droughts. It naturally appreciates moist soils but cannot tolerate chronic waterlogging.
Soil
Pussy willow adapts to most soil types but prefers moist, well-drained soils. It tolerates chalky and slightly acidic soils. Improving the soil with mature compost at planting time will promote good establishment.
Pruning
Prune lightly after flowering (April-May) to maintain a nice shape. The spectacular catkins appear on wood from the previous year: severe pruning before winter will reduce the following year's flowering. You can also rejuvenate the plant every 3 to 4 years in late winter.
Fertilizer
Pussy willow is not demanding in nutrients. An application of well-decomposed compost in spring is generally sufficient. Avoid excess nitrogen fertilizer, which promotes vegetative growth at the expense of flowering.
Diseases and pests
Pussy willow is generally robust. Watch for possible powdery mildew during warm, humid periods. Weevils can occasionally damage young leaves. Good air circulation and removal of dead branches prevent most problems.
Did you know?
Pussy willow is one of the first sources of nectar and pollen in spring: its catkins covered in golden pollen feed bees and other insects when few other flowers are available. In several European traditions, its flowering branches are gathered on Palm Sunday before Easter, hence its popular name of "cat" in some French-speaking regions, as the catkins resemble tiny cat tails.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- AspenPopulus tremula
- Grey willowSalix cinerea
- White willowSalix alba
- Eared willowSalix aurita
- Creeping willowSalix repens
- Black poplarPopulus nigra
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.