Dappled willow
Salix integra · Salicaceae
📷 Opioła Jerzy (Poland) · CC BY 2.5
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around dappled willow and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Scientific name
- Salix integra
- Family
- Salicaceae
- Type
- Deciduous shrub
- Mature height
- 4 to 5 meters
- Flowering
- April to May
- Foliage
- Deciduous, lanceolate, light green
- Hardiness
- Zone 5-8 (-15°C to -10°C)
- Origin
- Northern Asia and Japan
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability medium.
Expert tips
The key tip
Handles annual pruning and moist soils well. Plant it as a specimen or in a row to get its characteristic shape from the second year on.
The common mistake
Forgetting to prune regularly will leave it bare at the base within a few years.
The pro's trick
In March, trim about 30 cm from the tip of each branch: branching thickens much faster than you'd expect.
Care
Exposure
The Salix integra thrives in full sun for optimal growth and a more compact habit. It tolerates partial shade but will develop a more upright silhouette. Plant it in a location sheltered from strong winds that could damage its flexible branches.
Watering
Keep the soil moist during growth, especially the first two years. Water regularly during dry periods, as this shrub appreciates moisture without being waterlogged. In winter, reduce watering but don't let the soil dry out completely.
Pruning and training
Prune after flowering (June) to encourage branching and maintain a nice shape. Remove dead or diseased branches as soon as they appear. Light annual pruning keeps the shrub compact and vigorous; avoid drastic cuts that rejuvenate slowly.
Fertilizer
Apply a balanced fertilizer in spring when growth resumes. A second application in early summer can support growth. Limit excessive nitrogen that would favor foliage at the expense of flowering.
Soil
Prefer well-drained, fertile and slightly moist soil. Salix integra tolerates slightly acidic to neutral soils. Improve poor soil with compost or potting soil at planting to promote rooting.
Diseases and pests
Generally hardy, it may be visited by aphids or sawflies under stress. Watch for powdery mildew in humid weather; ensure good air circulation around the shrub to limit favorable conditions. Good hygiene and an airy location prevent most problems.
Did you know?
Salix integra is particularly appreciated by Japanese landscapers and in traditional Asian garden design. Its velvety rose-gold catkins that emerge in spring give it remarkable spring charm, while its graceful and flexible branches make it an excellent candidate for espalier forms or architectural structures.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- AspenPopulus tremula
- Goat willowSalix caprea
- Grey willowSalix cinerea
- White willowSalix alba
- Eared willowSalix aurita
- Creeping willowSalix repens
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.