The Dappled Willow (also known as the Harlequin Willow) is a real showstopper, mostly thanks to its stunning, airy crown. That variegated foliage with its unique shape is a total head-turner! But here’s the best part: despite its big personality, this willow stays perfectly manageable. It tops out at about ten feet, which gives you a ton of flexibility when deciding where to plant it.
Before we dive in, you’ll want to know which version you’re dealing with:
- The Dappled Willow grown as a natural shrub or ornamental bush.
- The Dappled Willow trained as a “standard” (a little tree on a trunk).
How Big Does This Little Willow Actually Get?
When most people hear the word “willow,” they picture massive Weeping Willows trailing their branches into a lake. But the Dappled Willow (scientifically known as *Salix integra* ‘Hakuro Nishiki’) is a Japanese cultivar that’s nothing like its giant cousins. It stays small enough to fit into even the tiniest front yard. In fact, it’s a fantastic choice for patios or balconies because it happily lives in a large container.
To get a handle on the size, you have to look at how it’s being grown. You’ll usually find them either as a multi-stemmed shrub or as a “standard”—which looks like a miniature tree that you can prune into a perfect lollipop shape. The final height depends entirely on which form you choose.
If you let it grow as a free-standing shrub, expect it to reach a maximum height of about 10 feet. It usually spreads about half as wide as it is tall, so plan for a width of around 5 feet. This size is a “sweet spot” for most gardens—it’s big enough to make a statement but small enough that you can prune the whole thing without needing a giant ladder. Plus, caring for a small ornamental willow is way easier than maintaining a full-sized tree!
The Standard: Staying Within Its Limits
Do you have a Dappled Willow that’s growing as a standard in a pot or in your garden bed? If so, its height isn’t going to change much. These “tree-form” willows are usually created by grafting the Dappled Willow onto the trunk of a different, sturdier willow species. Your job is simply to keep the top trimmed to maintain that beautiful, bushy shape.
Over the years, the trunk might get a little thicker, but the tree won’t actually get taller. Most standards stay right between 3 and 5 feet tall, though some mini versions are even shorter. This gives you a lot of control; you can prune the canopy to whatever size suits your space. Just one golden rule: never cut or damage the graft point (the knobby spot where the bushy top meets the straight trunk)!
