Survival, growth, plant structure and insect damage ofin vitro‐derived cuttings from twoSalixclones (5.schweriniiand 5.viminalis)were compared in a field trial with performance of conventional cuttings of the same clones. No obvious morphological abnormalities were induced byin vitrotreatment. The survival rate of in vitro‐derived cuttings of theS. schweriniiclone was much higher than that of conventional cuttings. In the 5.viminalisclone, height growth was slightly but significantly reduced forin vitro‐derived cuttings compared with conventional cuttings although stem basal area and estimated plant dry weight were unaffected. The number of stems per cutting, the number of side shoots per stem and gall midge damage did not appear to be affected by the type of cutting. Electrophoretic analysis of 12 enzyme systems revealed identical isozyme patterns for mvitro‐derivedand conventionally propagated plants.