Plant Library

Other Names:  Peppermint Tree; A. flexuosa Westland's Burgandii

Description:

A truly handsome, weeping small tree with deep burgundy leaves that are a striking contrast to the white flowers that appear in spring; underlying, older foliage eventually turns green; makes a wonderful accent, screen, or container subject

Ornamental Features

Burgundy Peppermint Willow is bathed in stunning clusters of white flowers with burgundy centers at the ends of the branches from mid spring to mid summer. It has attractive grayish green-variegated burgundy foliage with hints of silver which emerges crimson in spring. The narrow leaves are highly ornamental and remain burgundy throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Burgundy Peppermint Willow is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen tree with a rounded form and gracefully weeping branches. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Burgundy Peppermint Willow is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Burgundy Peppermint Willow will grow to be about 25 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 2 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.

This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. This plant will benefit from an application of bonemeal and/or mycorrhizal fertilizer at the time of planting. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

Burgundy Peppermint Willow is a fine choice for the yard, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its height, it is often used as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.