Side by side
Goat willow or creeping willow? How to tell them apart
Salix caprea · Salix repens
How to tell them apart – goat willow: a large shrub or tree with broad leaves, grey-felted underneath, and big, fat catkins; creeping willow: low, creeping little willow with small, silvery-haired leaves and small catkins in spring.
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 creeping willow: a large shrub or tree with broad leaves, grey-felted underneath, and big, fat catkins.
- Creeping willow
- Low, creeping little willow with small, silvery-haired leaves and small catkins in spring.
| Goat willow | Creeping willow | |
|---|---|---|
| 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, elliptic to lanceolate, 1–4 cm, untoothed or finely toothed; underside (in the dunes both sides) covered with silky silver hairs. |
| Flowering | Fat, silvery catkins in March; on male trees they turn golden yellow (March–April). | Small catkins (1–2 cm) in April–May, just before or with the leaves; male ones yellow, female ones greenish, on separate plants (April–May). |
| Fruit | Fluffy seeds in May. | Small capsules that split open in May–June and release seeds with white fluff. |
| Bark | Grey, smooth for a long time, later cracking into diamonds. Buds large and red-brown. | Thin, reddish-brown to grey twigs, partly lying on the ground and rooting from underground runners. |
| Shape and height | Broadleaf tree, 3–10 m | Dwarf shrub, 0.2–1 m |
| Site | Sun or partial shade, any garden soil, moist to wet | Full sun, any garden soil, dry to wet |
| Native to Belgium | Yes | Yes |
| Good 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 | May–June |
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: Creeping willow
- Goat willow: when and how to prune
- Creeping willow: when and how to prune
- Identification key
Also looks like
This comparison is compiled from the Bladwijzer species pages.