Goat Willow
Salix caprea
- Native to:
- Albania, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Corse, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Krym, Lebanon-Syria, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Poland, Romania, Russia, Sicilia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Transcaucasus, Türkiye, Ukraine
T. Kebert
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Salicaceae
- Genus:
- Salix
- Species:
- Salix caprea
- USDA Symbol:
- SACA22
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub
- Height:
- 1000 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★★★★☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★★★★★ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
- Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Buck Moth (Hemileuca maia), Ceanothus Silkmoth (Hyalophora euryalus), Coleophora albidella, Coleophora atlantica, Columbia silk moth (Hyalophora columbia), Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis), Io moth (Automeris io), Luna moth (Actias luna), Nevada buck moth (Hemileuca nevadensis), oak winter moth (Hydriomena nubilofasciata)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, birds, small mammals
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- moist, fertile, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Commonly found in damp, wooded areas and riverbanks
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds are short-lived; sow fresh or after cold stratification. Germination occurs in light.