The Salix integra ‘Hakuro-nishiki’, commonly known as the Flamingo Willow or Dappled Willow, is a popular ornamental plant. Its unique variegated foliage, emerging in spring with pink, creamy white, and green hues, adds striking color and texture to the landscape. It is a favored choice for various garden designs, including as a specimen plant, in mixed shrub borders, or as an informal hedge.
Winter Characteristics
The Flamingo Willow is a deciduous tree, shedding its leaves in autumn as it prepares for dormancy. In late fall, leaves transition to a yellow-gold color before falling. After foliage drops, the tree reveals bare branches, often displaying a striking coral-red or brick-red tint, especially on new growth. This provides unique visual interest during the stark winter months, resembling red-twig dogwood stems. Dormancy is a natural phase, allowing the plant to conserve energy and prepare for vigorous new growth in spring.
Essential Winter Care
Preparing the Flamingo Willow for winter involves care practices to ensure its health through colder months. Proper drainage is important to prevent root rot, particularly as moisture levels can increase with winter precipitation. While dormant, water needs are minimal, so watering is generally not required unless conditions are unusually dry and the ground is unfrozen. Applying a 2 to 3-inch layer of organic mulch, such as bark or wood chips, around the base in late fall helps regulate soil temperature, retain moisture, and provide insulation for the roots. This preparation helps the tree withstand winter conditions.
Winter Pruning for Optimal Growth
Pruning the Flamingo Willow in late winter or early spring, before new growth begins, maintains its vibrant appearance and promotes health. This timing is important because the most intense pink and white variegation appears on new growth. Removing any dead, diseased, or crossing branches helps improve the tree’s structure and vigor. For gardeners aiming to maximize colorful new stems and maintain a compact size, a hard prune (coppicing or pollarding) can be performed. This involves cutting branches back significantly, sometimes to within 6 to 12 inches of the ground or main trunk, which encourages a flush of colorful new shoots.
Protecting from Harsh Winter Conditions
While the Flamingo Willow is generally hardy, specific measures can protect it from severe winter elements, especially for young or container-grown trees. For trees in pots, moving them to a sheltered location, such as an unheated garage or against a protected wall, helps shield them from extreme cold and strong winds. Insulating containers by wrapping them with materials like bubble wrap, burlap, or fleece provides protection for the roots against freezing temperatures. Heavy snow accumulation on branches should be gently removed with a broom to prevent breakage. For trees planted in the ground, a mulch layer is typically sufficient, but in areas with harsh winds, a burlap screen can act as a windbreak for younger plants.