Tamarisk or Salt-cedar
Tamarix ramosissima
Tamaricaceae - Tamarisk
Description
Leaves: Alternate; simple; scaly; very small; deciduous; blue-green; no petiole.
Twigs/buds: Twigs slender, spreading, and drooping. Buds small, round.
Flowers/fruit: Flowers perfect; 5 petals; very small; pink; arranged in large, drooping inflorescences at branch ends; open in May. Fruit a small capsule.
Bark: Gray; smooth.
Wood: No information available.
General: Native to China. Much planted in the past in the western U.S., including Utah, for conservation reasons, but has become a naturalized weed along streams in dry areas where it out-competes most native plants. Very salt and drought tolerant. Shade intolerant.
Landscape Use: This shrubby tree is a pest and should no longer be planted. Other species may also have been planted and are occasionally available in nurseries, including Tamarix parviflora. Hardiness ranges from zones 7-10 to zones 2-7, depending on species.
Comments & Limitations: Should not be planted because of weediness.
Cultivars: 'Cheyenne Red', 'Pink Cascade', 'Rosea', 'Rubra', 'Summer Glow'.
Characteristics
General
Family | Tamaricaceae - Tamarisk |
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Cultivar Availability | No |
Hardiness Zone | 5-8 |
Type | Broadleaf |
Utah Native | No |
Growth
Growth Rate | Medium |
---|---|
Mature Height | Low |
Longevity | Medium |
Is Good Under Power Lines | Yes |
Crown Shapes | Shrubby |
Ornamental
Bark | No |
---|---|
Fall Color | Yes |
Flowers | Yes |
Foliage | No |
Fruit | No |
Tolerance
Shade | Low |
---|---|
Salt | High |
Drought | High |
Poor Drainage | High |
Alkalinity | High |
Transplanting | Medium |