Flamingo dappled willow (Salix integra) – shrub with pink variegated foliage – 17 cm pot – height 70–80 cm

Yes, the Flamingo shrimp willow (Salix integra 'Flamingo') is very hardy and can withstand temperatures down to -20°C when planted in the ground, making it suitable for almost all of France, including regions with harsh winters. Its lignified wood in autumn easily withstands successive frosts. If planted in a pot, the roots are more exposed: protect the container with a fleece or insulating cover during periods of extreme cold. As soon as spring returns, the plant vigorously regrows, producing new, brightly colored shoots.

The Flamingo shrimp willow is renowned for its rapid growth, a common characteristic of willows (Salix). In favorable conditions, with full sun and moist soil, it can grow 40 to 60 cm per year, or even more if left untrimmed. Thanks to this vigor, a young plant measuring 70–80 cm planted in spring can reach 150 to 200 cm by its second season. It is precisely this rapid growth that makes regular pruning essential to maintain a compact form and stimulate intense variegation. Annual pruning in March remains the main way to control the final height.

The beauty of the Flamingo Willow (Salix integra 'Flamingo') rests entirely on its young shoots, which display the full extent of its pink and white variegation. To make the most of this effect, prune it back hard each year in March, before the buds break, cutting the branches back to 10–15 cm from the main framework. This severe pruning, known as "rejuvenation pruning" or "heading back," stimulates a multitude of highly colorful young shoots. A light second pruning in August helps refresh the plant's shape and produce a new flush of variegated shoots before autumn.

The Flamingo Willow (Salix integra) is fairly tolerant of different soil types, provided they remain moist to wet. It grows very well in clay, silty, or heavy soils that are often difficult for other shrubs, and even adapts to the edges of bodies of water or slightly floodable areas. However, soil that is too dry and sandy in full sun can cause the leaves to dry out and dull the variegation.

Yes, the Flamingo weeping willow grows very well in a large pot or container on a terrace, provided you choose a container at 'least 40 to 50 cm in diameter to allow the roots to develop properly. In a pot, managing the 'watering is essential: the growing medium must remain constantly moist, especially during the summer, as willows quickly suffer from a 'lack of 'water in full sun. Use a general-purpose potting mix enriched with compost and ensure good drainage at the bottom of the pot. In winter, insulate the pot from the cold ground to protect the roots from prolonged frosts.

Like all willows, the Flamingo Willow (Salix integra 'Flamingo') is a nectar-producing plant appreciated by pollinators, especially the bees that visit its catkins in early spring, even before the leaves have opened. This early spring flowering makes it a valuable resource for insects emerging from winter, when sources of nectar and pollen are still scarce in the garden. The presence of the Flamingo Willow thus helps support local biodiversity while providing incomparable ornamental value.

Left unpruned, the Flamingo shrimp willow (Salix integra 'Flamingo') can reach a height of 250 to 300 cm, or even more over several years, given its naturally rapid growth. However, left untrimmed, it gradually loses the intensity of its pink and white variegation, as the new shoots display the most vivid colors. This is why almost all gardeners prune it severely every March to keep the plant compact, between 100 and 150 cm tall, and to constantly renew the growth of colorful young shoots.