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Key characteristics

Family: Salicaceae
Height: 4 to 6 feet
Width: 5 to 7 feet
Flower color: Yellowish catkins (insignificant)
Foliage color: Leaves emerge pink in spring, transitioning to green with white variegation
Bloom time: Spring
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Moderate
Maintenance: Medium; occasional pruning to shape
Growing zone: USDA Zones 4 to 9
Wildlife: Provides shelter for birds and adds habitat diversity to gardens

Shrubs

Salix integra 'Hakuro Nishiki'

Japanese Dappled Willow

Salix integra 'Hakuro Nishiki' is a deciduous shrub native to East Asia, including Japan, China, and Korea. Renowned for its variegated foliage, it features delicate, narrow leaves that emerge in spring with shades of pink, white, and green. As the growing season progresses, the foliage transitions to a soft green with white highlights, creating a dynamic and evolving visual appeal. In autumn, the leaves develop a golden hue before falling, revealing red-tinted stems that add winter interest.

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Water

Moderate

Bloom time

Spring

Find this plant

Works well in

Sun Gardens
Hedging & Privacy
Specimen Plants
Foundation Plantings

Companion plants

Poppies · Milkweed · Bee balm · Feather reed grass · Rock cress · Alpine mint bush

Design tip

Give ‘Hakuro Nishiki’ room to spread near a water feature, where its arching branches can echo the movement of the water without requiring a formal waterside planting. The pink-and-white spring foliage also creates a particularly effective contrast against the darker surface of a pond or stream.