Monday, January 3, 2011

What do you call this?

Salix integra 'Hakuro Nishiki'? 杞柳? イヌコリヤナギ?
I just love the foliage on this shrub. It has green, white leaves with pink blush at tip ends. This shrub has become one of the superstars of our home landscape. It requires only little maintenance aside from some lower branch pruning. I cut anything out from the main branch last year and this year will try not to disturb the shoots that are coming out because the new wood is where the good colours are. This hardy shrub is easy to care for and thrives in most soil types and conditions. From light shade i moved it to under full sun, it grows well. I would say, overall it is an outstanding shrub and well worth the initial cost.

I think it looks great planted in large container flanking the entrance to my veggie garden :)

7 comments:

Open Kitchen Concept said...

Oh I like this plant so much! I have to get one of this if I ever have a garden too! And all the little "toys" and figurines in your garden is cool.. It is like I'm expecting some elves and fairies to pop up any time! :)

p3chandan said...

At one glance, the shrubs look like the variegated bougainvillea Milka...though this plant has not much blooms but a lot of attractive foliage.

Malay-Kadazan girl said...

Very pretty plant. It compliment your cottage style garden:).

Bangchik and Kakdah said...

I thought I have seen it before grown as hedges.... Does it have fine prickly thorns?

miruku said...

Open Kitchen Concept, Diana: Thank you.

p3chandan: I thought this was bougainvillea too but it is not. No flowers at all. It has a nick called 变色龙 (chameleon in chinese).

Bangchik: No thorns. It's a small tree. I think those you see as hedges are Breynia nivosa or snow bush (http://milkasue.blogspot.com/2010/09/dream-dream.html). The gardener told me we hardly find this plant in M'sia wo... (bought for RM80, con me again??!?) LOL.

Steve said...

What a gorgeous shrub Milka, I adore the little swing too.

Autumn Belle said...

The white on the leaves looks like a snow effect. Lovely!