Description

Goat Willow

Goat willow is known as pussy willow, a name given due to its male catkins’ similar appearance to cat paws. The Goat Willow supports an astonishing variety of wildlife, most of all bees and butterflies due to the pollen filled flowers.

The Goat willow can commonly live for 200-400 years and eventually can grow up to 10m tall. Unlike most varieties of Willow, the goat willow has rounded ovular leaves, making them easily noticeable next to other varieties of willow with much finer leaves.

If left alone, the willow will naturally root into the ground as a stem sits on the ground, the plant will detect it is next to soil and form a new root system, this is a popular way willow trees reproduce.

This willow is already very popular in hedgerows across the UK due to there benefits to wildlife or easily maintained growing style. Often, they are trimmed back to 1 stem every year allowing them to flourish each year over an over without getting out of hand.

The Goat Willow can be used to form an individual hedge row or individual trees, or it can be used in combination with other native hedge plants to form a mixed native hedge. You can see our mixed bundle options on our all-hedging page.

The recommended planting density varies depending on the height of the plants you buy for example:

Small – 15-90cm: It is recommended that you plant 3-5 plants per meter

Medium – 90-150cm: It is recommended that you plant 2-3 plants per meter

Large – 150-300cm: It is recommended that you plant 1-2 plants per meter