Salix caprea; ‘Goat willow’

Also known as Pussy or Goat willow, Salix caprea is sometimes considered a shrub but mainly has the height of a small tree. The habit is distinctively upright with being almost oval in outline.

The 6-10cm dark green leaves have a slightly crisp and crimpled margins. The yellowish to brown stems are studded with purple-brown buds that open to show soft furry greyish male catkins in March-April.

Goat Willow is a small deciduous tree with a dense spreading head of shoots that weep into the ground. It tends to become congested and top heavy. With a spread of 2.5 meters and a height ranging from 1.5 meters to 2 meters.

This species can grow in most soil conditions, but particularly well in moist soil conditions and preferring full sunlight.

This Goat Willow was found in Chorlton, the soil conditions seemed damp as we were next to a large body of water. there was also a number of goat willows growing in a close radius.