The Flamingo Tree (Salix Integra Hakuro-Nishiki) is a popular dwarf willow known for its vibrant springtime foliage a marbled mix of green and white with vibrant pink tips reminiscent of flamingo feathers. As summer progresses and leaves drop in autumn, revealing coral-orange stems beneath, yellow catkins appear before their foliage reappears again next spring. Known by several names, including “flamingo willow” or shrimp willow, the flamingo tree is a compact shrub or small tree ideal for small gardens. Usually sold as a standard or lollipop tree grafted onto the rootstock of another willow variety,. The flamingo tree may look delicate, but in reality is highly resilient in the UK, receiving the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.
How to Grow a Flamingo Tree
Flamingo trees should be placed in soil that drains well, with full or partial sun exposure and regular irrigation. Standard trees thrive when planted, provided they’re watered regularly. Light pruning in winter and lightly again in summer as necessary may also help promote the growth and health of this plant.
Where Should I Plant My Flamingo Tree?
Aim for moist but well-drained soil in full sun when planting your flamingo tree; they look best in contemporary or urban gardens as well as Japanese-inspired planting schemes. Potted standards work nicely too if planted alongside doorways.
How to do Puree?
A flamingo tree digs a hole of equal depth as the root ball and mixes in plenty of well-rotted compost or manure before placing the root ball in. Fill up the hole with soil before watering well afterward, as mulch can help preserve moisture levels in the ground.
Care for a Flamingo Tree
Watering and Feeding Keep ground plants moist during periods of extreme dry weather. When cultivating a flamingo tree in a pot, ensure the compost remains wet at all times. Feed in the spring using a balanced fertilizer blend. Mulch using well-rotted manure or garden compost, as this will help retain moisture levels in the soil. Pruning A late-winter prune will encourage lush, vibrant foliage growth with plenty of fresh pink blooms. Reduce growth by about one-third and remove dead, damaged, or diseased shoots, plus any that are growing the wrong way. Remove any dead branches as well as any that sprouted from grafted stems if any are growing uncontrolled, and trim away any that sprouted from them too. You can then lightly prune again in the summer to encourage even more new pink growth later on! How to Propagate a Flamingo Tree Flamingo willows can be propagated by taking softwood cuttings in spring and summer or hardwood cuttings in autumn and winter from existing trees.
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Growing Flamingo Tree: Solve Problems
A lack of sunlight could be to blame. Remember that pink leaf tips only appear for part of the year before changing back to green later on in the season.
Brown leaves could be caused by wind and sun damage, or lack of water. Flamingo trees thrive best in sunlight but in prolonged hot weather they may be scorched by direct sun exposure – temporarily move them to a shaded position if possible.
Potted trees require regular irrigation during hot spells. Standard trees bearing green leaves on their stems may contain willow from where their top was grafted, which should be pruned away before trimming is performed.
Willow aphids don’t do any lasting damage to plants, but sooty mold can form on their honeydew excretions which is unattractive and hinders photosynthesis. Watch for early infestations and either spray them away with water or squash them by hand to get rid of the problem as quickly as possible.
Rust can appear as yellow patches on the upper side of leaves and orange pustules on their undersides, so any affected leaves that have fallen to the ground should be quickly removed and cleaned up immediately.
Cankers can wreak havoc on willow trees. Be on the lookout for leafless shoots and disfigured bark; prune away affected areas as soon as you notice any symptoms.
Willow anthracnose is a fungal disease that causes black or brown spots and lesions on leaves, distortion or dropping of foliage, raised lesions on stems, and raised lesions near them. It often appears in early spring when temperatures and humidity levels are ideal. Any affected areas should be pruned immediately (especially lesions on stems and fallen foliage) for best results.
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FAQs
Q1. Why am I seeing strange growth on my flamingo willow tree?
Flamingo willows are grafted onto different willow variety rootstock, so any growth from underneath must be removed as soon as it appears or it will outcompete the top growth. Gently pull new shoots off while watching for any new stems that form, cutting any that appear as soon as they begin forming or cutting any older shoots off altogether.
Q2. How to keep a flamingo tree?
- Plant in well-draining soil,
- Provide partial to full sunlight, and
- Water regularly to keep the soil moist.
Q3. How to revive your flamingo tree?
- Check for proper watering,
- Adjust light conditions, and
- Prune any dead or diseased branches.