Bareroot Salix caprea (Goat Willow)

A charming deciduous shrub or small tree, prized for its early spring display of fluffy silver catkins that mature to bright yellow, adding a cheerful touch to gardens as winter fades. The broad, rounded leaves are dark green with a slightly wrinkled texture, providing a lush backdrop through summer. Well suited to hedgerows and wildlife gardens, this plant thrives in moist soils and attracts pollinators with its nectar rich blooms. Its compact, bushy growth habit makes it an excellent choice for informal hedging or as a standalone feature in smaller landscapes. Tolerant of pruning and adaptable to various conditions, it brings year round interest while supporting local biodiversity.

Family of Trees: Salicaceae

Habit: Deciduous Tree/Shrub, Rounded

Growth Rate: 40-80 cm/year

Optimal Temperature: 10-25°C, hardy to -40°C

Harmful if Eaten?: Non-toxic

Flowers or Berries: Yellow Catkins

Hardiness: H7 (Extremely Hardy)

Hardiness ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

○ H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
○ H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
○ H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
○ H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
○ H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
○ H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
○ H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
○ H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
○ H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)