Salix integra 'Hakuro Nishiki'

Fast-growing willow. Tolerates wet soils. Better variegation if pruned back to 8-12" every year. New foliage emerges pink in spring, maturing to variegated shades of pink, creamy white and green. Narrow, lance-shaped leaves (to 4” long) are particularly attractive in spring to early summer but gradually fade to mostly green as summer progresses. Stems turn red (primarily the new growth stems in Zones 4-5) in fall providing excellent winter interest. All stems turn red in warm winter climates. The trunk does not turn red but remains gray.