Dappled Willow
Salix integra
The most well-known dappled willow variety, Hakuro Nishiki, features splotches of white and pink on its leaves.
History at Hadwen
Dappled willow wasn’t found in any existing records of Hadwen’s original plantings, however, a newspaper clipping from 1882 showed that Hadwen had six species of willow at the Arboretum. The dappled willow was planted by Clark students and faculty in 2022.
Detailed species information
Dappled willow is a deciduous willow shrub in the family Salicaceae, native to parts of China, Russia, Japan, and Korea. This shrub typically grows to 6–20 feet (2–6 meters) in height and is characterized by unruly long branches, pale green leaves, and grayish-green bark. The leaves are small and oppositely arranged in groups of two or three which appear in early spring.
The most popular cultivar of the dappled willow is called “Hakuro Nishiki.” It is a common ornamental plant because of its distinct variegated foliage, which has a “dappled” pattern of white and light pink on pale green leaves. Because of its small size and unruly growth, this cultivar is often grafted onto the stem of other willow species to achieve more straight, tree-like growth with the unique leaves of the dappled willow.
