If in a fair amount of shade the white bits stay pretty white (actually more of a dappled white on green). The white can burn if in a lot of sun and drier conditions although in my very mild summer climate that seldom happens if properly irrigated. In hotter areas of the country, I'm sure it could scorch.

When grown as a shrub, this willow can easily reach 15-20' high and as wide, so yes, pruning of those grown as a standard is necessary to keep the top growth in scale.

Burnt areas are common with this if there isn't some shade, I have seen such damage many times in this area. It wants to be in full light because it is a willow but the aberrant white parts burn in sun so you have to split the difference when positioning it if you are not to be looking at brown patches. The one in the above picture is presumably in a shadow from the house during the hot part of the day but is not shaded like it would be if there was a tree over the top of it - probably a perfect situation.

yes.. so much for locating it perfectly for the size it was at point of purchase .. with no insight into the fact that things never really stop growing ...

if i am not mistaken.. they can take heavy pruning ... but i dont know how that is done in regard to the standard ...

being a willow.. it should root rather easily ... shouldnt it???

ken

Mine is in full sun and does not burn but it gets a decent amount of water. It's not a standard so I cut to the ground every few years, as only the new growth is white.

If all yours does is burn a bit, count yourself among the lucky. Saw a fair number of these gimmicky things up and die over the past winter in these parts. Of course, these parts is cold!

+oM

I have two on standard. I am zone 5.
I prune them almost every other month during the growing season but do not prune after September-ish so that new growth isn't destroyed by winter chills.
The FIRST TIME, new growth appears in spring it is very white and splotchy with green; very beautiful.
After that it takes a while for new growth to turn white and some does not.
I will say that they are prone to japanese beetles and aphids on the new growth, so keep an eye out. These are easy tackled with pinching and washing lightly.
Also, I have one that receives shade in the winter, but almost full sun in the summer and it has no issues coming out of dormancy in spring; it thrives!
However, I have one that receives full sun, all year, and I lost it its second year and had it replaced (for free yay!) but I think it was dessicated from sun and breezes in winter.
These take hard pruning very well and bounce back only a week or two afterward.

it wont burn. It just needs to be trimmed back into a ball and yes it can be shaped into a broom style crown. It won't burn too. I have one and by the way the one shown on a standard is a lovely shape.. it just needs more trimming. YOu can trim in from outward back to a smaller size and also remove some branches from beneath to lessen the load. if it gets too top heavy the trunk may not be able to support the crown.

I am able to keep Japanese Beetle's off of my dappled willows with liquid seven from a spray bottle. Just mix some up according to the directions and spray every couple of weeks and the Japanese Beetle's will stay away and not devour them.

btw, the product referred to above is Sevin (not seven) a marketing name for carbaryl, an effective insecticide for many insect pests.

Way to go!👏

So

So smart

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