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Tamarix spp.

tamarisks

Tamaricaceae

Mediterranean, Africa, and temperate Asia

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 4–9

Overview

Tamarix spp. is a genus of about 50 to 60 species of deciduous and evergreen shrubs and small trees in the family Tamaricaceae, native to dry and saline regions of Eurasia and Africa, from the Mediterranean east to China. Plants grow 5-20 feet (1.5-6 m) tall with slender, arching reddish-brown branches clothed in tiny, scale-like, blue-green to grey-green leaves that resemble those of junipers or cypress. From spring into late summer the branch tips carry feathery plumes of very small pink or white flowers, massed so densely that a plant in bloom appears clouded in soft color. The leaves and stems secrete salt, allowing the plants to grow in saline and alkaline soils, and the deep, wide root systems reach groundwater and let the plants survive severe drought. Several species, especially the saltcedars, have become aggressive invaders of riverbanks, floodplains, and wetlands in the southwestern United States, where they crowd out native vegetation, raise soil salinity, and draw down water tables. T. ramosissima and T. chinensis are the species most often involved. The plants resprout strongly from roots and stumps. Many regions regulate or prohibit their planting because of this invasive behavior.

Native Range

Tamarix spp. species are native to the Mediterranean Basin, North and East Africa, and across temperate and subtropical Asia to China and India, in deserts, steppes, salt flats, and riverbanks. Introduced as ornamentals and windbreaks, several species have naturalized and become invasive in North America, Australia, and southern Africa.

Suggested Uses

Where they are not invasive, Tamarix spp. species are grown as windbreaks, screens, and seaside shrubs for their salt tolerance and feathery bloom, spaced 6-10 feet (1.8-3 m) apart. The arching plumed branches are sometimes cut for arrangements. In many regions, planting is restricted or banned because of the invasive saltcedars.

How to Identify

Recognized by slender, arching reddish stems bearing minute scale-like leaves that hug the twigs like those of a cypress, and by feathery plumes of tiny four- or five-petaled pink to white flowers at the branch tips. The foliage often feels faintly salty and may show salt crystals in dry weather. The whole plant has a soft, wispy, almost smoky texture in leaf and flower. The scale leaves and plumed flowers separate Tamarix spp. from true conifers and from willows, with which it shares riverbank habitats.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height5' - 20'

Width/Spread5' - 15'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~16 weeks

Spring Summer

Tamarix spp. flowers from spring into late summer, generally April to August, with some species blooming on the previous year's wood early in the season and others on new growth later. The tiny pink or white flowers are massed in dense plumes that can cover the plant. Flowering may continue in flushes through the warm months.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

blue-green to grey-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 8.5(Alkaline)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam clay chalk

Drainageaverage

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

These plants grow in full sun and tolerate a wide range of soils, from sand to clay, including saline, alkaline, and seasonally dry ground at a pH up to about 8.5. Deep roots let established plants reach groundwater, so they withstand drought, heat, wind, and coastal salt with no irrigation. They grow poorly in deep shade and in cold, wet, heavy soils. Because the salt-tolerant, fast-growing species spread by huge quantities of wind- and water-borne seed and resprout from roots and cut stumps, they are difficult to remove once established. In invaded regions, control combines cutting, stump treatment, and removal of seedlings over several years. The leaf litter raises soil salinity beneath the plants.

Pruning

Spring-flowering species are pruned right after bloom, while summer-flowering species are cut back hard in late winter, since they flower on new growth. Hard pruning keeps the arching shrubs dense and within bounds. Cut stems and roots resprout vigorously, so removed material is destroyed rather than left to root.