Tri-Color Dappled Willow Tree

Pink, white, and green foliage all at once — the Dappled Willow is the most colorful shrub-tree you can grow for fast, effortless impact.

The Tri-Color Dappled Willow (Salix integra 'Hakuro-nishiki') is a fast-growing, multi-stemmed shrub or small tree prized for its extraordinary variegated foliage. New growth emerges in a striking blend of pink, white, and soft green — all on the same branch at the same time — creating a watercolor effect that's unlike anything else in the landscape. The color is most vivid on new growth, so regular pruning keeps the display fresh and bright all season long.

What I love about it

The Dappled Willow is the plant that makes people think you're a serious gardener even if you're not. The tri-color foliage is genuinely eye-catching — pink, white, and green swirling together in a way that looks almost painted. It grows fast, fills in quickly, and tolerates wet soils that would kill most ornamental trees. In fall the leaves turn golden before dropping to reveal attractive reddish stems that add winter interest. Prune it hard in late winter and it comes back with the most vivid new growth of the season. Easy, fast, and endlessly rewarding.

Plant Care Tips

• ☀️ Light: Full sun to part shade — best color in full sun
• 💧 Water: Consistently moist; tolerates wet and boggy soils
• 🌡️ Temperature: Hardy to -30°F (Zone 4)
• 🪴 Difficulty: Easy — fast-growing and adaptable
• 🐾 Pet Safety: Non-toxic to cats and dogs
• ✂️ Pruning: Prune hard in late winter to encourage vivid new pink growth

Plant Specs

• Mature Size: 6–10 ft tall and wide (shrub form); up to 15 ft as a standard tree
• Growth Rate: Fast
• Foliage: Pink, white, and green variegated; golden fall color
• Winter Interest: Reddish stems
• Growing Zone: 4–9

Bloom bold. Be cheeky.