Salix 'Hakuro Nishiki' is a useful, hardy variegated willow that adds texture and foliage interest to the garden all year long. A graceful deciduous shrub, Salix 'Hakuro Nishiki' also known as  ‘Albo-maculata’ or ‘Dappled Japanese Willow’, has attractive 4 inch long oblong leaves that emerge pink in the spring and mature to a variegated creamy white and lime green. To keep the creamy white and pink tips of Hakuro Nishiki all summer long, shear back periodically to encourage new growth. Salix 'Hakuro Nishiki' may be trimmed regularly to promote new growth or to maintain a pleasing size and shape. 

A vigorous plant, Hakuro Nishiki will grow 12 inches to 18 inches per season reaching a mature height and width of 5 feet x 5 feet. This hardy variegated willow is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 4-9 and produces better variegated color in colder temperatures. The young branches of this dappled variegated willow grow out of the crown in all directions and will begin drooping slightly as the plant matures giving the shrub a graceful rounded form. As winter approaches, the foliage of Salix 'Hakuro Nishiki' willow turns golden yellow before defoliating to reveal bright red twigs that provide color and contrast in the winter landscape. Like all Willows, Hakuro Nishiki thrives in moist soils and full sun. While Salix 'Hakuro Nishiki' is not deer resistant, it will tolerate some browsing by deer, and works well as an accent plant, planted in mass to form a colorful variegated hedge or alongside water features and natural areas. You can purchase Salix 'Hakuro Nishiki' grown sustainably and pesticide-free in 1 gallon or 2 gallon nursery trade containers at Stargazer Perennials online plant nursery.