This small native willow is very abundant, found throughout north-west Europe. It is sometimes grouped with its close relative the Goat Willow, the two collectively known as common sallows. as Grey Sallow.

Native to most of north-west Europe but absent from Spain and Portugal. In Britain and Ireland it probably has the widest distribution of any tree, missing from under 1 per cent of the 10x10km plots botanists use to survey the countries.

Dioecious, with males producing golden-yellow pussies and females green catkins a few weeks later, releasing small wind-dispersed fluffy seeds. A pioneer. Two named subspecies exist: Rusty Sallow (subsp. oleifolia) is widespread, while the type form (subsp. cinerea) is more restricted, mostly eastern England, though commoner in mainland Europe.

Maximum height 15m. Bark dark grey with shallow ridges. Shoots slightly hairy, red-brown, with appressed alternate buds. Distinctive stipules at the petiole base are a key feature. Elliptical leaves are widest in the outer half and finely serrate; Rusty Sallow has smaller leaves with rust-coloured hairs on the underside veins, though intermediates occur. Goat Willow differs: drier sites, larger pussies, oval twisted-tipped leaves without stipules.

Easily propagated by taking cuttings, while wind-dispersed seeds result in widespread natural regeneration.

Bees and hoverflies attracted to male catkins in early spring. Leaves are a food plant for butterflies, moths and beetles such as the Blue Willow Beetle (Phratora vulgatissima), in turn attracting feeding birds.

Watermark disease, anthracnose, scab and rusts.

Important in conservation, especially as a pioneer species supporting recolonisation.