Desert willow

Sun

Full sun; flowering is best with long, hot summers.

Water

Low once established. Water young trees deeply, then let the soil dry between waterings; established trees usually need supplemental water only during prolonged drought.

Soil

Well-drained sandy, gravelly or loamy soil, including alkaline soil. Avoid waterlogged ground and heavy clay that stays wet.

Height

15-30 ft (4.6-9.1 m)

Spread

10-20 ft (3-6.1 m)

Flowers

Late spring to early autumn in warm climates; pink, lavender or purple trumpets with pale, yellow-marked throats. Some plants flower nearly white.

Foliage

Long, narrow green leaves on an open, airy framework; leaves emerge relatively late in spring.

Growth

Moderate to fast in warm conditions.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   7 ft (2 m)

2. After 1 year

   8 ft (2.3 m)

3. After 2 years

   9 ft (2.6 m)

4. After 3 years

   10 ft (2.9 m)

5. After 5 years

   12 ft (3.5 m)

About 16 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Native to

the US

Growth rate

Fast

• Plant in full sun with excellent drainage, away from lawn irrigation.
• Water deeply during establishment, allowing the root zone to dry between waterings.
• Once established, give an occasional deep watering during extended drought rather than frequent light watering.
• Avoid routine feeding; excess nitrogen encourages leafy growth at the expense of flowers.
• Keep mulch away from the trunk; gravel mulch suits dry sites.

Pruning. Prune in late winter or early spring before new growth, removing dead, damaged and crossing branches. Train a young plant to one trunk or a few well-spaced stems, and avoid topping or severe annual cutting.

Late winter

Prune for structure while dormant, but delay removing suspected frost damage until live growth is clear.

Spring

Plant after severe frost risk has passed and the soil has begun to warm.

Late spring

Check soil moisture around newly planted trees; do not assume late leaf emergence means the tree has died.

Summer

Water young trees deeply during dry weather and inspect tender shoots for aphids.

Early autumn

Collect mature seed pods before they split if you want to raise seedlings.

Late autumn

Clear fallen leaves and pods from paths, and check that winter rain drains freely from the root zone.

• Use as an airy specimen tree in a sunny gravel courtyard, allowing room for its spreading crown.
• Place above drought-tolerant shrubs and perennials to provide light, filtered shade rather than dense canopy cover.
• Combine with agaves, red yucca and ornamental grasses for contrasting leaf shapes in a dry garden.
• Use in a sunny wildlife border where its summer flowers and persistent seed pods can be appreciated.

Garden styles it suits: Desert modern, Southwestern, Desert / xeriscape, Dry gravel garden, Wildlife garden and Modern Mediterranean.

Plant it with: Red yucca, Texas sage, Autumn sage, Desert marigold, Blue grama and Parry's agave.

Wildlife: Flowers attract bees and, within their range, hummingbirds. The branching canopy provides shelter and nesting places for small birds.

• Root rot and decline in wet soil: improve drainage or move a young plant to a drier site; stop frequent irrigation.
• Aphids on soft shoots: wash off small colonies with water and encourage natural predators; use insecticidal soap if necessary.
• Powdery mildew in humid conditions: improve airflow, avoid crowding and keep the foliage dry when watering.
• Winter dieback in cold or damp sites: choose a warm, sheltered position and prune damaged wood after new growth reveals what survived.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. No part is generally identified as poisonous, but it is not an established food plant; discourage pets and children from eating leaves, flowers or seed pods.

• True willows (Salix spp.)

  True willows produce catkins rather than large trumpet flowers and generally favour moister ground.

• Southern catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides)

  Both have trumpet flowers and long seed pods, but southern catalpa has very large, heart-shaped leaves rather than narrow, willow-like leaves.

• Oleander (Nerium oleander)

  Oleander has leathery evergreen leaves, often in whorls of three, and flatter, five-lobed flowers. Unlike desert willow, all parts of oleander are highly poisonous.

Desert willow refers to its dry native habitat and willow-like leaves, while Chilopsis means lip-like, referring to the flowers, and linearis describes the narrow leaves.

Propagation. Sow fresh seed in spring in a free-draining seed mix; seedlings vary in flower colour and form. Root semi-ripe cuttings in summer to preserve the characteristics of a selected plant.

Accepted botanical name

Chilopsis linearis

In the US and Canada

Native in the lower 48 states.

Native range

Arizona, California, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas and Utah.

Measured

Soil pH 7 to 10. Average height 762 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.