Origin: Europe, Asia
Botanical characteristics: It is a large shrub, sometimes it can be a small tree. It is deciduous, fast-growing and reaches 10 meters in height. Twigs are sturdy and grey-tomentose. Leaves are obovate, serrated, a bit wrinkled, dull green on the upper side, grey-tomentose on the lower one. It is a dioecious plant with male and female inflorescences in catkins on separated plants, which occur in spring, before the leaves.
Agronomic and environmental characteristics: It is spontaneous throughout the whole territory, particularly common in the Alps and Apennines on moist forests up to 1000 meters above sea level.
Use: It is used singly or in groups in spontaneous gardens. It is suitable for coating moist slopes and river banks and for reforestation of uncultivated moist areas.
