Two species of willows (Salix spp.) were found to dominate the riparian vegetation of the lower River Murray between Wellington and Mannum, South Australia. Willows formerly referred to as S. rubens are actually S. fragilis. Entirely female S. babylonica shared a patchy distribution throughout the reach with male S. fragilis. S. babylonica appeared to have begun its growth season earlier than S. fragilis, however flowering times overlapped. Soil salinity varied between sites (median 6.0 mS cm^-1), but species distribution and foliar salt contents did not reflect this. Foliar salt contents indicate that neither species was salt stressed despite growing in moderately saline soil. The response of willows to salinity in the field contrasted sharply with those of cuttings in the glasshouse experiment that were exposed to corresponding salinity levels. Growth responses of cuttings in the glasshouse indicated that both species were salt-sensitive non-halophytes that could not tolerate salinity levels of &Mac179; 7 mS cm^-1. Order of magnitude differences between river water and soil water conductivity were reflected in the difference in foliar salt contents between field and experimental plants. The results of this study suggest that S. fragilis and S. babylonica may have been accessing less saline river water in preference to soil water.