Salix integra ‘Hakuro-Nishiki’ (Dappled Willow)

Attracting the eye with its bright, showy colors, Salix integra ‘Hakuro-Nishiki’ (Dappled Willow) is a deciduous shrub or small tree of great beauty. Compact, it sports a luminous variegated foliage on graceful branches throughout the growing season. Emerging pink in spring, the narrow, lance-shaped leaves gradually mature to variegated shades of pink, creamy-white and green, before fading to green as the summer progresses. In the fall, the leaves eventually turn yellow before shedding to the ground, revealing coral red stems to enjoy in winter. In the coldest regions, zones 4 and 5, only the new growth will turn coral red. The entire length of the branches will turn coral red in warmer climates.

This graceful shrub is a perfect garden accent, thanks to its multiseason interest.

• Winner of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society
• Grows up to 4-6 ft. high (120-180 cm) and 5-7 ft. across (150-210 cm).
• Performs best in full sun to part shade , in fertile, moist, well-drained soils. Prefers full sun, but welcomes some afternoon shade in hot summer areas. Best foliage color occurs in cool summer areas (north of USDA Zone 7).
• Easy to grow, easy to care for and deer tolerant. Watch for aphids, caterpillars, leaf beetles, sawflies, willow anthracnose or rust.
• Great for beds and borders or as an informal hedge or privacy screen. Great for city gardens, cottage gardens, or along streams or ponds.
• Propagate by softwood or hardwood cuttings
• Prune as needed in late winter to early spring. Many gardeners prune the stems back in late winter each year to encourage more vigorous growth, more colorful foliage (as it results in new growth), and to control the plant size. Pruning may also improve the red branch color for winter, as the newest growth is the reddest.
• Native to China, Japan, Korea and southeastern Siberia