Goat willows are small deciduous trees to 10m tall that have been grown for the fluffy male flower clusters (pussy willows). There are several trunks from ground level and dense branching with grey or greenish bark. The leaves are oval, soft, sometimes felted with hairs and wavy edges. Buds are brown and pointed, opening in winter to reveal flowering catkins which are either all male or female on a plant, followed by new leaves. The seeds are tiny with the fine cottony hairs.