Shrub to small tree branching from the base. Leaves narrowly ovate to elliptic or obovate, 4-8 cm long, to 4 cm wide, sometimes toothed, more or less hairy and sometimes waxy blue below. Catkins more or less stalkless, appearing before the leaves.
Often mistakenly referred to as S. caprea, this species is widely naturalised in Tasmania, NSW and Vic, also in gullies of the Sydney region. In many cases it is a serious environmental weed and one of the parents of S. ×reichardtii. Spread is largely by seed.
Two varieties may be encountered: var. cinerea, Grey Sallow, with branches spreading to slightly pendent and leaf hair never rust-coloured, and var. oleifolia Macreight, Rusty Sallow, with erect branches and leaves with at least a few rust-coloured hairs.
Source: (1997). Salicaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 2. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 1. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.
