Species library · Plants & herbs

Foraging Goat Willow

Salix caprea

Typically in season from January to December in the northern hemisphere. Found in Woodland edges, Scrub & hedgerows, Waterside. Has toxic lookalikes, so check carefully.

Goat Willow (Salix caprea)

Photo: no rights reserved, uploaded by Tero Linjama · iNaturalist

When Goat Willow is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset, and your own timing depends on local weather, so check your town.

→ Everything in season to forage in September

Where it grows

Goat Willow is usually found in Woodland edges, Scrub & hedgerows, Waterside.

⚠ Look-alikes & safety

Toxic look-alikes: Alder buckthorn, Common buckthorn, Grey willow. Only forage with a confident ID.

Take Goat Willow into the field

Open Goat Willow in the Forage app for its full field guide entry with more photos, key features and toxic lookalikes to check against. Add it to your watchlist and the app pings you the moment it comes into season at your exact spot, worked out from live weather, elevation and billions of occurrence records.

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Goat Willow: common questions

When is Goat Willow in season?

Goat Willow is generally in season from January to December in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather. Check the Season Finder for your own location.

Where does Goat Willow grow?

Goat Willow is usually found in Woodland edges, Scrub & hedgerows, Waterside.

Is Goat Willow safe to forage?

Toxic look-alikes: Alder buckthorn, Common buckthorn, Grey willow. Only forage with a confident ID. Never eat any wild plant, berry, nut or mushroom unless you are completely certain of the identification. Check every find against a reliable field guide, and when in doubt, don't.

One note before you head out

Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.

Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits