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Tamarix ramosissima

saltcedar

Tamaricaceae

Eurasia (southeastern Europe to China and Mongolia)

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 4–9

Overview

Tamarix ramosissima is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing 6-20 ft (1.8-6 m) tall and 6-15 ft (1.8-4.5 m) wide, with slender, reddish-brown branches and a loose, feathery outline. The tiny, scale-like blue-green leaves clasp the twigs, resembling juniper foliage, and secrete salt that accumulates on the surface and in the soil beneath. From spring through summer it produces dense, slender racemes of small pink to white flowers 0.5-2 in (1.3-5 cm) long, covering the branch tips. Native to Eurasia, Tamarix ramosissima was introduced to North America and has become invasive across riparian zones of the western United States, where it displaces native willows and cottonwoods, lowers water tables, and raises soil salinity and fire frequency. It grows in USDA zones 4 to 9, tolerates drought, flooding, and saline soils, and resprouts aggressively from roots and cut stems. A single plant can produce hundreds of thousands of wind- and water-dispersed seeds in a season. It is regulated as a noxious weed in many western states.

Native Range

Tamarix ramosissima is native to Eurasia, from southeastern Europe across Central Asia to China and Mongolia. Introduced to North America in the 19th century, it has naturalized and become invasive throughout riparian areas of the western United States and northern Mexico.

Suggested Uses

Where it has naturalized, Tamarix ramosissima occupies riverbanks, washes, and reservoir margins rather than being deliberately planted. In regions where it is regulated, native riparian trees and shrubs are planted in its place.

How to Identify

Recognized by feathery foliage of tiny, scale-like blue-green leaves that clasp slender reddish-brown twigs, resembling a juniper or cedar. Dense, slender racemes of small pink to white flowers 0.5-2 in (1.3-5 cm) long cover the branch tips from spring into summer. Salt crystals often coat the foliage and the ground beneath the plant.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6' - 20'

Width/Spread6' - 15'

Reaches mature size in approximately 5 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~20 weeks

Spring Summer Fall

Flowering occurs over a long season from spring through late summer, roughly April to September. The slender pink to white flower racemes appear on new growth in repeated flushes. Abundant seed follows each flush of bloom.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

pink to white

Foliage Description

blue-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 clay loam silt

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

Tamarix ramosissima grows in full sun and tolerates a very wide range of soils, including saline, alkaline, sandy, and periodically flooded ground, with pH from 6.0 to 8.5. It is hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9 and withstands drought, flooding, and high salinity that exclude most other woody plants. Water needs are low once established, though it grows fastest with abundant groundwater. It resprouts from roots and cut stumps and regrows after fire, which makes established stands difficult to remove. Seed and root fragments spread readily along waterways.

Pruning

Cutting alone stimulates vigorous resprouting from the stump and roots, so cut stems regrow quickly. Removal of established plants generally combines cutting with stump treatment or excavation of the root crown. Pruning is not used as routine maintenance for this species.