This dataset presents survival and growth data of three subalpine willow species (S. caesia, S; foetida and S. hastata) and a ubiquitous willow species (S. purpurea). In a growth chamber under controlled conditions of light, temperature and humidity, 50 cuttings per species were planted in sand pots, 25 of which were treated with growth hormone (IBA). After four months of growth, survival was estimated and biotechnical traits were measured. The traits were chosen to assess the potential use of the four species in soil and water bioengineering (SWBE) structures: diameter, number and length of roots, number, maximum and cumulative length of stems, above and belowground biomasses. For each individual, we recorded the species, the origin of the cutting (M: Maurienne, L: Lautaret, T: Tarentaise), the growth chamber and tray on which it was grown, the survival rate and the biomechanical traits (root_length_max, root_D1:5, root_number, stem_number, stem_length_max, stem_cumulative_length, aboveground_biomass, belowground_biomass, cutting_biomass).