Abstract Specific gravity, fibre length and cell wall thickness of various hybrid Salix clones were compared. The densest clone was 1.47 times denser than the least dense clone. The highest specific gravity was 0.5, found in Salix viminalis L. whereas the lowest was 0.372, found in Salix dasyclados L. The clone with longest fibre was 1.34 times that of the clone with shortest fibre. Clones with long fibre also showed high specific gravity such as Salix viminalis L. The cell wall thickness in Salix clones varies from 0.0025 mm to 0.0037 mm or 1.48 times from minimum to maximum cell wall thickness. Since the above fibre properties indicate various paper strength characteristics such as flexibility coefficient and felting index, it is possible to select clones with superior characteristics for propagation as suitable source for pulp and paper industry.