Tri-Color Dappled Willow Tree

Light Needs

Partial Sun to Full Sun

(At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

8-10 Feet

Mature Spread

8-10 Feet

Growing Zones

5 to 9

The Tri-Color Dappled Willow turns ordinary beds into living watercolor. Fresh growth flushes pink, then softens to patchwork white and green, while fine stems add movement with every breeze. It’s a fast, forgiving accent that fills space quickly without feeling heavy.

Early spring brings silvery catkins; summer shows creamy variegation; fall warms to buttery gold. Use it as a specimen, a soft screen, or a bright anchor near patios and water features. The compact, mounding canopy also shines when trained on a grafted “tree-form” standard.

Tri-Color Dappled Willow Care

Provide 6+ hours of sun for the strongest color; in hotter climates (Zones 8–9), offer afternoon shade to prevent leaf scorch. Plant in consistently moist, well-drained soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0–7.0). Water deeply when the top 1–2 inches of soil are dry; newly planted willows appreciate steady moisture their first growing season. Mulch 2–3 inches deep, keeping mulch a few inches from the trunk. Feed in early spring with a balanced, slow-release shrub fertilizer.

Prune in late winter to early spring: thin older wood and lightly head back to encourage colorful new shoots; a hard cutback (coppice) every 2–3 years refreshes variegation. Hardy in Zones 4–9 and tolerant of clay and damp sites; ideal for rain gardens.

Tri-Color Dappled Willow Spacing

As a specimen, allow 6–8 feet of width and keep 3 feet from walls, fences, and paths for airflow and maintenance. For a soft hedge or screen, plant 3–5 feet on center depending on how quickly you want it to fill.

In large containers, choose a pot 18–24 inches wide with drainage; water more frequently in summer. If grown as a grafted tree form, stake the trunk the first season and remove any shoots that emerge below the graft.

Why Grow Tri-Color Dappled Willow?

• Show-stopping pink, white, and green foliage that stays bright through the season

• Fast growth and easy shaping for quick landscape impact

• Moisture tolerant and rain-garden friendly; handles clay better than many shrubs

• Four-season interest with spring catkins, summer variegation, and golden fall color

• Versatile form options: natural shrub, clipped hedge, or grafted patio tree

Note: Roots seek moisture. Plant at least 15–20 feet from septic systems or buried water lines.

Bring home a colorful, quick-growing focal point that’s easy to love and even easier to care for. Tri-Color Dappled Willow delivers instant charm and year-round interest wherever you need a lift.