Tamarix ramosissima (Tamarisk)

A truly beautiful deciduous shrub or small tree with a loose, open habit, Tamarix ramosissima (Tamarisk) features reddish, arching branches and graceful plumes of pink flowers on shoots produced earlier in the season. Produced in late summer to fall, the flowers are so profuse that they transform the shrub into a feathery mass of rosy-pink. The blossoms persist for 4-6 weeks and give way to capsules that split open when ripe and release abundant seeds. The fine-textured foliage is juniper-like foliage with tiny, narrow, blue-green leaves. Excellent plant for coastal areas thanks to its excellent salt tolerance.

• Typically grows 10-15 ft. tall (300-450 cm) with a spread of 8-13 ft. (240-390 cm).
• A full sun lover, this plant is best grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils. Tolerates a wide range of soils including poor soils. Drought tolerant.
• Enjoys an excellent resistance to pests and diseases. Deer resistant.
• Plant in mixed shrub borders for dramatic summer blooms. Great flowering shrub for naturalized areas, dry slopes, coastal gardens. May be used as a windbreak or informal hedge.
• Prune as needed in late winter to early spring. Can be pruned back hard in late winter in order to keep a compact plant and promote better form and growth.
• Native to Europe and Asia.
• In warm winter climates (USDA zones 8-10), Tamarix ramosissima has become a noxious weed in several US states, typically forming dense thickets that often crowd out native plants. This plant should not be moved or grown under conditions that would involve danger of dissemination.
• Find where this species is invasive in the United States.
• Discover beautiful U.S. native plant alternatives.