We describe DNA fingerprinting of willows(SalixL.) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We amplified genomic DNA of 15 putative clones inSalix eriocephala, S. exigua, S. miyabeana, S. roridaandS. sachalinensis,and in 4 ramets of a clone in each ofS. petiolarisand 5.eriocephalawith the M13 universal primer (5´‐TTATGAAACGACGGCCAGT‐3´). A total of 19 PCR fragments (bands) were observed, but each clone had 4 to 9 bands. Fourteen of the 15 clones had unique banding profiles that distinguished each other. The remaining clone fromS. eriocephalawas identical to a clone of the same species. Banding profile was reproducible among ramets of theS. petiolarisclone, but minor differences in staining intensity in 2 of the 6 bands were observed among ramets of the 5.eriocephalaclone. A dendrogram of relationships showed that clones of the same species grouped together.