Salix integra ‘Hakuro Nishiki’ is a medium-sized shrub with a spherical canopy, reaching a height of 1.5 to 2 meters and a width of approximately the same size. Branches grow almost vertically, forming a fountain-like shape as they extend; they take on a white-red hue during winter. It has a shallow root system; the plant is unpretentious but requires plenty of water and light for vigorous growth.
The leaves are long, narrow, and lance-shaped, reaching up to 10 cm in length. Their color changes with age: young leaves are pink, then turn white-green, and in autumn they turn yellow and fall late, usually in October-November. Purple 'earrings' are often visible at the tips of shoots – delicate pendants that appear in April with a faint fragrance reminiscent of hyacinths.
Any soil is suitable for planting Salix ‘Hakuro Nishiki’, but it thrives best in light, well-aerated mixtures – peat-sand or sand-clay. Watering should be generous, especially during the rooting period; the plant tolerates waterlogging better than drought. In winter, special shelter is not required, but at low temperatures it is recommended to protect it from severe frost using non-woven material.
Salix ‘Hakuro Nishiki’ is widely used in landscape design: as a decorative tree or shrub, a solitary specimen for embankments and parks, as well as in combination with grasses and other plants. Thanks to the bright leaf color and ease of care, it quickly attracts the attention of gardeners and becomes a popular element of modern compositions.
