Tri-Color Willow

The tri-color willow is a deciduous fast growing shrub willow growing to 8 feet tall by 12 wide with beautiful pink, white and green foliage, especially strong in the early part of the season. Pruning it back encourages new growth with the dramatic coloring. Zone 7 to 5 for best color. Will grow in many soil types and will tolerate wet feet. Deer do not eat, but will rub the velvet from their antlers in the spring, so if deer are plentiful, protection of the trunk(s) is important. Can be grown as a standard (tree shape), but usually as a multi-stemmed shrub. Like all willows, a source of salicylic acid, the active ingredient in aspirin, now made synthetically, but the powerful effect of willow bark extract is due more to the combination of polyphenols and favonoids with salicylic acid.