Goat Willow (Salix caprea)

Goat Willow, or Pussy Willow, is a species of willow that grows into a shrub or small tree. The best way to identify a Goat Willow in the early spring is to look for the catkins, which are actually budding flowers. They are an important source of nutrition for the first pollinators of the  year. Goat Willow can be found growing solitary in just about all parts of Finland, usually in nutrient-rich places that receive plenty of light. It is a very fast-growing tree. It grows most often as a bush, but the trunk of the Goat Willow can reach a height of more than 20 metres. The heartwood of Goat Willow is a different colour from the surface wood. It is used to some extent in the joinery industry, and the reddish root burr in particular is a sought-after material.