Plant Location: Dog Leg Flower Bed and Texas Wildscape Garden
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| Common Name(s): | Desert Willow | Fruit: Showy Tolerate: Drought, Dry Soil Garden locations Culture Easily grown in dry to medium moisture, slightly alkaline, well-draining soils. Once established, will tolerate drier soils and drought conditions if occasional supplemental water is provided in summer. Prune as needed when the tree is dormant from late winter into early spring. Noteworthy Characteristics Chilopsis linearis, commonly called desert willow, is a small deciduous tree or large shrub with a single trunk, upright, open branching structure, and vigorous growth habit. This plant is found growing in desert stream banks, washes, ditches, and depressions throughout the southwestern United States and north-central Mexico. Mature plants will reach up to 30′ tall with a 20′ spread. The leaves are narrow and lance-shaped, reaching up to 10″ long and only 0.25″ wide. White to rose-pink blooms (up to 1.5″ long) with ruffled petals appear on terminal panicles from May to June, but will sporadically rebloom throughout the summer particularly after rain. Genus name Chilopsis comes from the Greek words cheilos meaning “lip” and opsis meaning “resembling” in reference to the distinct lip found on its calyx. The specific epithet linearis means “linear” and refers to the shape of the foliage. The common name desert willow refers to the resemblance of this plant to many willows (genus Salix), but it is more closely related to catalpa (genus Catalpa) and trumpetcreeper (genus Campsis). Problems No major pest or disease problems. Uses Does best in hot, dry areas of the garden. Suitable as an accent plant in rock gardens, pollinator gardens, desert gardens, and xeriscaping projects.Chilopsis linearis Chilopsis linearis (Cav.) Sweet Desert Willow, Flowering Willow, Willow-leaved Catalpa, Willowleaf Catalpa, Bow Willow, Flor De Mimbre, Mimbre Bignoniaceae (Trumpet-Creeper Family) Synonym(s): USDA Symbol: chli2 USDA Native Status: L48 (N) Desert-willow is a 15-40 ft., slender-twigged, small tree or large shrub, often with leaning, twisting trunk and open, spreading crown. Leaves are deciduous, willow-like, light green, both opposite and alternate, 4-12 inches long and 1/3 inch wide. The blossom is funnel-shaped, 1-1 1/2 inches long, spreading at the opening into 5 ruffled, petal-like lobes. The flower is dark pink or purple, often with white or yellow and purple streaks within the throat. The catalpa-like flowers are borne in terminal racemes. By early autumn, the violet-scented flowers, which appear after summer rains, are replaced by slender seedpods, 6-10 inches long, which remain dangling from the branches and serve to identify the tree after the flowers are gone. Named for its resemblance to willows, this popular ornamental tree is actually related to catalpa trees, Yellowbells (Tecoma stans), and Trumpet vine (Campsis radicans). Its exotic-looking blooms, rapid growth, drought tolerance, and ease of maintenance have made it a sought-after plant within its range, which in nature is from south-central Texas south to Nuevo Leon and Zacatecas in Mexico and west all the way to southern California and Baja California. Adapted to desert washes, it does best with just enough water to keep it blooming and healthily green through the warm months. Many cultivars have been selected, with varying flower colors, leaf sizes, and amounts of seed pods. Plant Characteristics Duration: Perennial Habit: Tree Leaf Retention: Deciduous Leaf Arrangement: Alternate , Opposite Leaf Complexity: SimpleLeaf Margin: Entire Breeding System: Flowers Unisexual , Monoecious Inflorescence: Panicle Fruit Type: Capsule Size Notes: Up to about 40 feet tall. Leaf: Green. Flower: Flowers 1-1.5 inch, in 2-4 inch panicles. Fruit: Green to brown, 4-12 inches. Bloom Information Bloom Color: White , Pink , Purple , Violet Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct Bloom Notes: Mostly blooms heaviest May to June but will continue to bloom sporadically throughout the warm season after rains. Flower color ranges from solid white or muted pink to darker rose and purple, as well as two-toned combinations of those colors. Throat often yellow-tinged. Many cultivars available with varying flower colors. Distribution USA: AZ , CA , NM , TX Native Distribution: South-central Texas south to Nuevo Leon and Zacatecas, west to southern California and Baja California Native Habitat: Ditches, ravines, depressions, streams, river banks, arroyos, swales, and washes in desert areas Growing Conditions Water Use: Low Light Requirement: Sun Soil Moisture: Dry , Moist CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium Drought Tolerance: High Cold Tolerant: yes Heat Tolerant: yes Soil Description: Well-drained limestone soils preferred, but also does well in sands, loams, clays, caliches, granitic, and rocky soils. Minimal organic content the norm. Conditions Comments: Allow to dry out between waterings, as this will encourage more extensive waves of blooms. Avoid excessive water and fertilizer, as that can lead to overly rapid growth, fewer blooms, and a weaker plant. Prolonged saturation can result in rot. Won’t grow as fast or get as large in clay soil but won’t suffer there either. Can be drought-deciduous in some regions. Can survive temperatures as low as 10 degrees F. Benefit Use Ornamental: A showy, fast-growing, drought-tolerant ornamental tree with very decorative blooms Use Wildlife: Nectar-hummingbirds, Nectar-insects, Seeds-granivorous birds Use Medicinal: Floral decoctions taken for coughs and bronchial problems in Mexico Use Other: Erosion control. Bows and basketry made from its wood by indigenous people. A good honey plant. Conspicuous Flowers: yes Fragrant Flowers: yes Interesting Foliage: yesAttracts: Birds , Butterflies , Hummingbirds Larval Host: White-winged moth Nectar Source: yes Deer Resistant: Moderate Value to Beneficial Insects Provides Nesting Materials/Structure for Native Bees This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Propagation Propagation Material: Seeds , Semi-hardwood Cuttings Description: Propagate by fresh seed, dormant cuttings, or semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer. Seed Collection: Gather seeds from late summer through autumn when the pods have dried and turned brown but before they split open to release feathery seeds. Seeds may be stored dry in the refrigerator over winter (other references suggest storage in wet sand) but germinate best if sown fresh. Seed Treatment: No treatment is necessary. Commercially Avail: yes Maintenance: Prune frequently during its first few years to encourage minimal or single trunks. Water occasionally during prolonged drought. Remove spent flowers and seed pods to encourage continued blooming. To encourage branching and blooming, cut back during winter dormancy by a third. | |
| Botanical Name: | Chilopsis linearis | ||
| Plant Location: | Dog Leg Flower Bed & Texas Wildscape Garden | ||
| Type: | Tree | ||
| Family: | Bignoniaceae | ||
| Native Range: | Northern Mexico, southwestern United States | ||
| Zone: | 7-9 | ||
| Height: | 10 to 30 feet | ||
| Spread: | 15 to 20 feet | ||
| Bloom Time: | May to September | ||
| Bloom Description: | Showy, fragrant, trumpet like flowers | ||
| Sun: | Full | ||
| Water: | Dry to medium | ||
| Maintenance: | Low | ||
| Suggested Use: | Best in hot, dry areas of the garden, suitable as an accent plant in rock gardens, pollinator gardens, desert gardens, and xeriscaping projects | ||
| Flower: | White to pink | ||
| Attracts: | Hummingbirds, butterflies, & other insects | ||
| Notable Highlights: | |||
| Information on this page is generally from Missouri Botanical Gardens, Dave’s Garden, All things Plants, Texas Superstar, Garden.org or Aggie Horticulture | |||
This page last updated or reviewed [250603]