Salix cinerea
Grey willow

Credit:

Grey willow (Salix cinerea) is a deciduous shrub or small tree that commonly reaches heights of 2–6 metres (Alliende and Harper, 1989). It is characterized by greyish, felted leaves, flexible twigs, and catkin-type flowers typical of the willow genus. Grey willow thrives in moist to wet habitats, such as floodplains, wet meadows, marshes, and stream margins, and is well adapted to periodic flooding and waterlogged soils (Alliende and Harper, 1989). It plays an important role in stabilizing riverbanks and reducing erosion. Grey willow is native to most of Europe, extending into western Asia and Morocco. It has also become naturalized and invasive in regions such as New Zealand and Australia, where it spreads rapidly in wetland areas (Cremer, 2003). 

Uses of grey willow include traditional applications for basketry and soil stabilization, and its bark has been historically valued for medicinal compounds related to salicin, a precursor to aspirin. However, due to its invasive potential outside its native range, grey willow is often subject to management and control measures in non-native ecosystems (Cremer, 2003). 

in situ genetic conservation unit−+
ex situ genetic conservation unit−+
Map elements
Download the distribution map
Related resources
Access the genetic conservation units in the EUFGIS information system
About map elements

To learn more about the map elements, please download the "Pan-European strategy for genetic conservation of forest trees"

Close
Acknowledgements

This distribution map has been developed by the European Commission Joint Research Centre (partly based on the EUFORGEN map) and released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY 4.0)

Caudullo, Giovanni; Welk, Erik; San-Miguel-Ayanz, Jesús (2017). Chorological maps and data for the main European woody species. figshare. Collection. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.2918528

 

The following experts have contributed to the development of the EUFORGEN distribution maps:

Fazia Krouchi (Algeria), Hasmik Ghalachyan (Armenia), Thomas Geburek (Austria), Berthold Heinze (Austria), Rudi Litschauer (Austria), Rudolf Litschauer (Austria), Michael Mengl (Austria), Ferdinand Müller (Austria), Franz Starlinger (Austria), Valida Ali-zade (Azerbaijan), Vahid Djalal Hajiyev (Azerbaijan), Karen Cox (Belgium), Bart De Cuyper (Belgium), Olivier Desteucq (Belgium), Patrick Mertens (Belgium), Jos Van Slycken (Belgium), An Vanden Broeck (Belgium), Kristine Vander Mijnsbrugge (Belgium), Dalibor Ballian (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Alexander H. Alexandrov (Bulgaria), Alexander Delkov (Bulgaria), Ivanova Denitsa Pandeva (Bulgaria), Peter Zhelev Stoyanov (Bulgaria), Joso Gracan (Croatia), Marilena Idzojtic (Croatia), Mladen Ivankovic (Croatia), Željka Ivanović (Croatia), Davorin Kajba (Croatia), Hrvoje Marjanovic (Croatia), Sanja Peric (Croatia), Andreas Christou (Cyprus), Xenophon Hadjikyriacou (Cyprus), Václav Buriánek (Czech Republic), Jan Chládek (Czech Republic), Josef Frýdl (Czech Republic), Petr Novotný (Czech Republic), Martin Slovacek (Czech Republic), Zdenek Špišek (Czech Republic), Karel Vancura (Czech Republic), Ulrik Bräuner (Denmark), Bjerne Ditlevsen (Denmark), Jon Kehlet Hansen (Denmark), Jan Svejgaard Jensen (Denmark), Kalev Jðgiste (Estonia), Tiit Maaten (Estonia), Raul Pihu (Estonia), Ülo Tamm (Estonia), Arvo Tullus (Estonia), Aivo Vares (Estonia), Teijo Nikkanen (Finland), Sanna Paanukoski (Finland), Mari Rusanen (Finland), Pekka Vakkari (Finland), Leena Yrjänä (Finland), Daniel Cambon (France), Eric Collin (France), Alexis Ducousso (France), Bruno Fady (France), François Lefèvre (France), Brigitte Musch (France), Sylvie Oddou-Muratorio (France), Luc E. Pâques (France), Julien Saudubray (France), Marc Villar (France), Vlatko Andonovski (FYR Macedonia), Dragi Pop-Stojanov (FYR Macedonia), Merab Machavariani (Georgia), Irina Tvauri (Georgia), Alexander Urushadze (Georgia), Bernd Degen (Germany), Jochen Kleinschmit (Germany), Armin König (Germany), Armin König (Germany), Volker Schneck (Germany), Richard Stephan (Germany), H. H. Kausch-Blecken Von Schmeling (Germany), Georg von Wühlisch (Germany), Iris Wagner (Germany), Heino Wolf (Germany), Paraskevi Alizoti (Greece), Filippos Aravanopoulos (Greece), Andreas Drouzas (Greece), Despina Paitaridou (Greece), Aristotelis C. Papageorgiou (Greece), Kostas Thanos (Greece), Sándor Bordács (Hungary), Csaba Mátyás (Hungary), László Nagy (Hungary), Thröstur Eysteinsson (Iceland), Adalsteinn Sigurgeirsson (Iceland), Halldór Sverrisson (Iceland), John Fennessy (Ireland), Ellen O'Connor (Ireland), Fulvio Ducci (Italy), Silvia Fineschi (Italy), Bartolomeo Schirone (Italy), Marco Cosimo Simeone (Italy), Giovanni Giuseppe Vendramin (Italy), Lorenzo Vietto (Italy), Janis Birgelis (Latvia), Virgilijus Baliuckas (Lithuania), Kestutis Cesnavicius (Lithuania), Darius Danusevicius (Lithuania), Valmantas Kundrotas (Lithuania), Alfas Pliûra (Lithuania), Darius Raudonius (Lithuania), Robert du Fays (Luxembourg), Myriam Heuertz (Luxembourg), Claude Parini (Luxembourg), Fred Trossen (Luxembourg), Frank Wolter (Luxembourg), Joseph Buhagiar (Malta), Eman Calleja (Malta), Ion Palancean (Moldova), Dragos Postolache (Moldova), Gheorghe Postolache (Moldova), Hassan Sbay (Morocco), Tor Myking (Norway), Tore Skrøppa (Norway), Anna Gugala (Poland), Jan Kowalczyk (Poland), Czeslaw Koziol (Poland), Jan Matras (Poland), Zbigniew Sobierajski (Poland), Maria Helena Almeida (Portugal), Filipe Costa e Silva (Portugal), Luís Reis (Portugal), Maria Carolina Varela (Portugal), Ioan Blada (Romania), Alexandru-Lucian Curtu (Romania), Lucian Dinca (Romania), Georgeta Mihai (Romania), Mihai Olaru (Romania), Gheorghe Parnuta (Romania), Natalia Demidova (Russian Federation), Mikhail V. Pridnya (Russian Federation), Andrey Prokazin (Russian Federation), Srdjan Bojovic (Serbia) , Vasilije Isajev (Serbia), Saša Orlovic (Serbia), Rudolf Bruchánik (Slovakia), Roman Longauer (Slovakia), Ladislav Paule (Slovakia), Gregor Bozič (Slovenia), Robert Brus (Slovenia), Katarina Celič (Slovenia), Hojka Kraigher (Slovenia), Andrej Verlič (Slovenia), Marjana Westergren (Slovenia), Ricardo Alía (Spain), Josefa Fernández-López (Spain), Luis Gil Sanchez (Spain), Pablo Gonzalez Goicoechea (Spain), Santiago C. González-Martínez (Spain), Sonia Martin Albertos (Spain), Eduardo Notivol Paino (Spain), María Arantxa Prada (Spain), Alvaro Soto de Viana (Spain), Lennart Ackzell (Sweden), Jonas Bergquist (Sweden), Sanna Black-Samuelsson (Sweden), Jonas Cedergren (Sweden), Gösta Eriksson (Sweden), Markus Bolliger (Switzerland), Felix Gugerli (Switzerland), Rolf Holderegger (Switzerland), Peter Rotach (Switzerland), Marcus Ulber (Switzerland), Sven M.G. de Vries (The Netherlands), Khouja Mohamed Larbi (Tunisia), Murat Alan (Turkey), Gaye Kandemir (Turkey), Gursel Karagöz (Turkey), Zeki Kaya (Turkey), Hasan Özer (Turkey), Hacer Semerci (Turkey), Ferit Toplu (Turkey), Mykola M. Vedmid (Ukraine), Roman T. Volosyanchuk (Ukraine), Stuart A'Hara (United Kingdom), Joan Cottrell (United Kingdom), Colin Edwards (United Kingdom), Michael Frankis (United Kingdom), Jason Hubert (United Kingdom), Karen Russell (United Kingdom), C.J.A. Samuel (United Kingdom).
 

Status of Salix cinerea conservation in Europe

Genetic summary

Genetic diversity and variation 

While direct, species-specific studies on grey willow are limited, broader research on European willows provides useful insights into its genetic diversity patterns. European willows, including grey willow, generally show high genetic diversity within populations and low differentiation between populations (Perdereau et al., 2014). This pattern is attributed to high gene flow and the occurrence of frequent hybridization events both within and between willow species. 

Most genetic variation in grey willow is found within local populations, with little evidence of strong geographic structure across its range (Perdereau et al., 2014). Species-specific genetic studies on grey willow remain sparse, highlighting the need for further research to better understand its evolutionary dynamics and conservation genetics. 

Gene flow 

Grey willow has high gene flow facilitated by its wind- and insect-mediated pollen dispersal, wind- and water-mediated seed dispersal, and outcrossing breeding system, which enhance genetic exchange across populations. As a dioecious species, it has separate male and female plants, and studies have shown that many populations display a female-biased sex ratio and some spatial segregation between sexes (Alliende and Harper, 1989). 

Like other willows, grey willow can regenerate easily from both seed and vegetative cuttings, allowing it to colonize disturbed or wetland habitats rapidly. This promotes both sexual recombination and clonal expansion, maintaining genetic connectivity while also supporting local dominance through vegetative spread. Despite spatial or sex-based differences within stands, gene flow remains extensive, limiting strong population structure across its range. 


The bibliographic review was conducted by James Chaplin of the EUFORGEN Secretariat in August 2025.

Further relevant genetic traits

Interspecific taxa dynamics 

Hybridization is widespread in willows, and grey willow frequently exchanges genetic material with closely related species such as eared willow (Salix aurita) and goat willow (Salix caprea), resulting in shared haplotypes and high genetic variability within natural populations (Palmé, Semerikov, and Lascoux, 2003). This extensive gene flow complicates species identification and population delineation. Grey willow also belongs to a group in which allopolyploid origins (hybridization followed by chromosome doubling) are common, enhancing its genetic complexity, adaptability, and ecological flexibility across diverse environments (Palmé, Semerikov, and Lascoux, 2003). 
 

The bibliographic review was conducted by James Chaplin of the EUFORGEN Secretariat in August 2025.

Genetic conservation

Threats 

Research on grey willow is very limited, and specific threats to its genetic diversity remain poorly understood. Potential pressures may include habitat loss, hybridization with related willow species, and environmental change, but these are inferred from broader willow studies rather than species-specific data. 

Management 

No targeted genetic management strategies exist for grey willow. Current conservation measures generally apply to willows as a group. More focused genetic studies are needed to assess population structure, hybridization impacts, and long-term management needs for this species. 

 

The bibliographic review was conducted by James Chaplin of the EUFORGEN Secretariat in August 2025.

Genetic Characterisation of Salix cinerea and its GCUs

Availability of FRM

FOREMATIS

Further reading

NA

References 

Alliende, M.C. and Harper, J.L. 1989. Demographic studies of a dioecious tree. I. Colonization, sex and age structure of a population of Salix cinerea. The Journal of Ecology, 77(4): 1029–1047. https://doi.org/10.2307/2260821 

Cremer, K.W. 2003. Introduced willows can become invasive pests in Australia. Biodiversity, 4(4): 17–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/14888386.2003.9712705 

Palmé, A.E., Semerikov, V., and Lascoux, M. 2003. Absence of geographical structure of chloroplast DNA variation in sallow, Salix caprea L. Heredity, 91(5): 465–474. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.hdy.6800307 

Perdereau, A.C., Kelleher, C.T., Douglas, G.C., and Hodkinson, T.R. 2014. High levels of gene flow and genetic diversity in Irish populations of Salix caprea L. inferred from chloroplast and nuclear SSR markers. BMC Plant Biology, 14(1): 202. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-014-0202-x 

If you notice any error in the contents of this species page, please contact euforgen@efi.int

See details
Designed by Newtvision

Sitemap | Cookie Policy