Salix integra 'Hakuro Nishiki' (Dappled Willow)

Dappled willow is one of those plants that stops people mid-stride. In spring, the new foliage emerges in a wash of soft pink that covers the entire plant like a blush, gradually transitioning to leaves dappled in creamy white and green as the season progresses. New growth continues to flush with pink tones through early summer, so the plant always seems to be in a state of refreshing itself. In fall, the young stems take on red and coral tones that carry the seasonal interest right into winter.

Salix integra 'Hakuro Nishiki' grows as a rounded, arching shrub typically reaching 4 to 6 feet in both height and spread when unpruned, though it responds enthusiastically to hard cutting in late winter, which pushes an abundance of the most colorful young growth. Many gardeners prune it heavily every year or two specifically to maximize that pink spring flush. It's also commonly sold as a standard, grafted onto an upright trunk, which gives it a more formal weeping form suited to entryways or specimen placement.

Plant in full sun to part shade with moist, fertile soil. Like most willows, it appreciates consistent water and will not thrive in drought conditions. It's a fast grower that fills space quickly, making it effective for new plantings where you need color and presence while slower plants establish.