Lebensader-Taugl-Lavendelweide-3 Willows grow on islands in the active riverbed zone. The lavender willow can grow as tall as 20 meters. Their narrow, sometimes wavy leaves have grey felt-like hairs on the underside and are not shiny.

The lavender willow is typical of this habitat, which is protected throughout Europe:
Alpine rivers and their ligneous vegetation with Salix eleagnos FFH habitat type 3240

The habitat is found on the pebble and gravel banks of mountain rivers lying above the mean waterline. They are repeatedly inundated for brief periods by strong floods, which deposit sand and gravel on them. The stand-forming willow species (Salix eleagnos, S. daphnoides, S. purpurea) grow on this fine substrate. They are largely resistant to drought. With its creeping rhizomes and buoyant seeds, the common sea-buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is also a true pioneer on bare calcareous soils.

Occurrence in the Tauglgries: Lavender willow (Salix eleagnos), purple willow (Salix purpurea), Alpine butterbur (Petasites paradoxus), grey alder (Alnus incana)