The aim of the research conducted in 2010-2012 on one-year, two-year and three-year shoots of three verities of Salix viminalis: ‘Bjor’, ‘Jorr’ and ‘Tora’, grown from 14, 15 and 16 year old stumps, was to compare the shoots of different age in terms of selected physiological characteristics, that is the concentration of chloroplast pigments, water balance of leaves and water content and dry matter of shoots. The content of chloroplast pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids) and the water balance were determined on the basis of RWC-relative water content and WSD-water saturation deficit indicators. Moreover, the water and dry matter content of one-year, two-year and three-year old willow shoots were determined. It was found that the age of the shoots differentiated the physiological parameters of willow varieties. The highest concentration of chlorophylls was reported in the leaves of three-year old shoots of the Bjor variety, in turn the highest concentration of carotenoids was found in the leaves of one-year old shoots of Jorr. Regardless of the age of the shoots, the highest rate of hydration of leaves and stems was a characteristic trait of the Tora variety, and the lowest was found in Jorr. High levels of the measured physiological parameters, such as chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids and relative water content in leaves obtained in the 5th rotation, that is 14th, 15th and 16th year of running the plantation, indicate a high physiological activity and hence high productivity of the studied willow varieties.