Side by side
Goat willow or osier? How to tell them apart
Salix caprea · Salix viminalis
How to tell them apart – goat willow: broadly oval leaves with a grey-felted underside; osier: willow with very long, narrow leaves with a silvery, shiny underside, and long, pliable shoots.
How do you recognise them?
- Goat willow
- Broadly oval willow leaf with a grey-felted underside; fat, silvery ‘pussy willow’ catkins in March.
- Compared with osier: broadly oval leaves with a grey-felted underside.
- Osier
- Willow with very long, narrow leaves with a silvery, shiny underside, and long, pliable shoots.
| Goat willow | Osier | |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves | Alternate, broadly oval, 5–10 cm, with a short tip that is often bent to one side; edge wavy and irregularly toothed. Underside grey-felted, upper side dull and slightly wrinkled. | Alternate, 10–20 cm long and 1–2 cm wide, untoothed with a slightly rolled-under edge; underside covered in silky, silver-grey hairs. |
| Flowering | Fat, silvery catkins in March; on male trees they turn golden yellow (March–April). | Catkins in March–April, before the leaves (March–April). |
| Fruit | Fluffy seeds in May. | Fluffy seeds in May. |
| Bark | Grey, smooth for a long time, later cracking into diamonds. Buds large and red-brown. | Long, straight, pliable shoots, hairy at first, later glossy greenish-brown. |
| Shape and height | Broadleaf tree, 3–10 m | Shrub, 3–6 m |
| Site | Sun or partial shade, any garden soil, moist to wet | Full sun, any garden soil, moist to wet |
| Native to Belgium | Yes | Yes |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees, butterflies and birds |
| Poisonous to people and pets | Not known to be poisonous | Not known to be poisonous |
| Pruning months | April–May | December–March |
What does it mean for your garden?
- Both are native and good for wildlife: choose what suits your soil, your light and the space you have.
Read on
- Plant profile: Goat willow
- Plant profile: Osier
- Goat willow: when and how to prune
- Osier: when and how to prune
- Identification key
Also looks like
- Goat willow or grey willow
- Osier or white willow
- Goat willow or eared willow
- Goat willow or creeping willow
- Goat willow or whitebeam
- Purple willow or osier
- Sea buckthorn or osier
- Osier or creeping willow
Identify by feature
This comparison is compiled from the Bladwijzer species pages.