Plant Details

Salix caprea

Goat Willow, Kilmarnock Willow, Pink Pussy Willow, Pussy Willow

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Common names

46 names · 33 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Florist's Willow[1]
  • Goat Willow[1]
  • Kilmarnock Willow
+3 more namesShow fewer names
  • Pink Pussy Willow
  • Pussy Willow[1]
  • Sallow[1]
Other languages (32)
Dutch
  • Boswilg[1]
  • Waterwilg
French
  • saule des chèvres[1]
  • Saule marsault[1]
Afrikaans
Armenian
  • Այծուռենի[1]
Asturian
Basque
  • Ahuntz sahatsa[1]
Belarusian
  • Вярба казіная, ці Брэднік[1]
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • vrba jíva[1]
Danish
Estonian
  • raagremmelgas[1]
  • raeremmelgas[1]
Finnish
German
Hungarian
  • Kecskefűz[1]
Italian
Japanese
  • タンナヤナギ[1]
  • バッコヤナギ[1]
Korean
  • 호랑버들[1]
Latvian
  • Parastā blīgzna[1]
Lithuanian
  • Paprastoji blindė[1]
Norwegian
Polish
  • Wierzba iwa[1]
Romanian
  • Salcie căprească[1]
Russian
  • Ива козья[1]
Slovak
  • vŕba rakytová[1]
Slovenian
Spanish
  • Sauce cabruno[1]
Swedish
Turkish
  • Keçi Söğüdü[1]
Ukrainian
  • Багниця[1]
  • Верба козяча[1]
Welsh
  • Helygen ddeilgron[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Salix caprea — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • goat willow — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • Boswilg — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • pussy willow — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • 호랑버들 — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • saule marsault — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • saule des chèvres — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • vrba jíva — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • sälg — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • Selje-pil — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • Ива козья — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • salgeiru — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • selje — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • Raita — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • Paprastoji blindė — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • Wierzba iwa — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • salgueira — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • バッコヤナギ — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • raagremmelgas — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • raeremmelgas — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • タンナヤナギ — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • 黄花柳 — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • 黃花柳 — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • salicone — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • Верба козяча — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • Вярба казіная, ці Брэднік — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • Այծուռենի — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • vŕba rakytová — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • bokwilger — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • Florist's Willow — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • Sallow — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • gatsaule — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • iva — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • Kecskefűz — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • Багниця — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • Keçi Söğüdü — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • Parastā blīgzna — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • Salcie căprească — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • Helygen ddeilgron — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • Ahuntz sahatsa — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • Sal-Weide — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • Sauce cabruno — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • Salweide — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.
  • Saalweide — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 55846; Salix caprea.

General information

Scientific name: Salix caprea
Accepted name (Kew): Salix caprea L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Botanical family: Salicaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Salix (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Goat Willow, Kilmarnock Willow, Pink Pussy Willow, Pussy Willow
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Tree
Catalogue size class: Medium
Height: 3.66–7.62 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Spread: 2.44–4.57 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [2]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [2]
Growth habit: Erect, Multi-stemmed, Multi-trunked

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [2]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [2]
Soil moisture:
Moist, Wet, Well-drained
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [2]

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Inner bark, Tea
Edibility rating:
(1)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Basketry, Charcoal, Paper, Pioneer species, Windbreak, Wood, Bee forage

Description

The inner bark of a tree can be eaten both raw and cooked. After the bark has been dried, it can be ground into a powder and added to grain flour. With this flour, it is possible to make various foodstuffs, such as bread. The inner bark has a very bitter taste, especially when fresh, and can serve as food in times of famine. The leaves and young shoots of the tree can also be eaten raw or cooked, but they are not very palatable. During periods of food scarcity or famine, these are used. The leaves can even serve as a substitute for tea.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/03
Harvest ends: 30/04

Crown

Crown shape: Broad weeping
Crown density: Dense crown

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1427267; name ID 2918656; Salix L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1427599; name ID 2919210; Salix caprea L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Salix caprea — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 12 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .