It is a treeorshrubofthewillowfamily, growing up to 20 m high, with a widelybranchedcrown. The bark isgrey and smooth, laterdarker and shrivelledatthe base. NativeofEurasia, itgrows in forests on poorsoil, is a sunny type and canthereforebefound on forestedges, clearings, meadowsfromlowland to mountain grade. As a pioneer species, itrapidlyoccupiessiteswithdisturbedsoilsurfaces.