The desert willow planted at the Master Gardener Demonstration Garden does provide a little bit of shade to the succulents planted beneath it, but its real value lies in the rich blue-green of its leaves and the eye-catching color and shape of its sweet-smelling flowers. Dec 8, 2015 - The Desert Willow ( Chilopsis linearis ) is a small flowering tree grown for its orchid like flowers and tolerance to hot arid landscapes. It can range from fifteen to forty feet tall, though generally it’s on the smaller side to use as an accent tree. the plant is definitely not thriving. In winter, after the first frost, desert willow sheds its leaves and remains bare through the winter. Narrow, willow-type leaves … My 3 desert willow trees are showing dead leaves, some green leaves. Desert Willow. The flowers emanate from new branch growth, and therefore pruning accentuates the process. Features simple, linear to linear-lanceolate leaves that are blue-green or medium to dark green, turning gold in the fall. Infected desert willow trees will display dieback, growth stunt, wilted and browning foliage and drooping. The narrow leaves are 5 to 12 inches long and, although … Eulalia Palomo has been a professional writer since 2009. - Over half of the branches are bare of leaves. The desert willow has very rapid developing shrubs that can grow for about 30 feet long and about 20 feet in diameter. Desert willow is a delicate, small, deciduous tree native to west Texas and the Edwards Plateau. Though note a true willow, the desert willow gets its name from its liner to lanceolate, hairless leaves. About Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis) 29 Nurseries Carry This Plant. ), although they are not related. Narrow, alternate, light-green leaves are 3 to 6 inches long with very pointed ends. For information about desert willow pruning, including tips on pruning desert willows, read on. Desert Willow has become one of the most popular native plants for landscaping. The willowy pendant branches display long, narrow leaves highlighted by fragrant, trumpet-shaped, burgundy-pink flowers that will draw hummingbirds into the garden. Chilopsis linearis (Desert Willow) is a spreading deciduous shrub or small deciduous tree adorned with narrow, willowy leaves and showy flower clusters from late spring to fall. Not looking good. Flowers and Seed Pods. Where it occurs in nature, it creates the feeling of a small oasis in the middle of dry desert … Has been very healthy until this spring. Ranging from pale pink to pale violet, they give way to beanlike pods, 6-10 in. The attractive feature of this desert tree is its large, showy flowers. In summer, few trees can rival the beauty of flowering desert willow. This cultivar produces few pods, creating less litter under the tree. It can range from fifteen to forty feet tall, though generally … Numerous desert willow cultivars bloom in colors beyond the pale purple and pink of wild varieties. Medium green in color. The Desert Willow flourishes from fall through spring and develops long suspended seed pods that … The bright-green leaves that cover the tree cast a light shade underneath the canopy. Also called Sweet Desert Willow. However, the similarities end there. My 3 desert willow trees are showing dead leaves, some green leaves. Some, such as 'Rio Salado', have dark purple or magenta flowers. Leaves are Skeletonized Sawfly - Adult willow shoot sawflies are wasp-like, but with thicker midsections, 5/8 to 1 ½ inches long. Borne at the tips of the branches, the sweetly fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers are reminiscent of catalpa blossoms. 1). Desert Willow tolerates various types of soils, but will certainly do best in one that is well-draining. Desert Willow Tree. Its fragrant, showy blooms range in color from whites to lavenders. An open, airy structure distinguishes this small tree or large shrub. Sometimes infected willow trees become entirely defoliated. Its Latin name Chilopsis refers to the lip-like flower and linearis refers to the long narrow leaves. A fast growing tree, it can grow 2-3 feet a year and reach heights of 30 feet. Its long narrow leaves resemble those of willows (Salix spp. Grows 1530 feet tall, 10 20 feet wide; grows fast at first (as much as 3 feet in a season), then slows. The throat and lower lip has a pattern of yellow ridges and purple lines, and the margins are crinkled. The airy foliage casts a light but cooling shade. Yields 10" seeds pod that persist throughout the winter. The desert willow is a North American native that thrives in dry, hot areas. They are trumpet-shaped, sweetly fragrant, and range … 6 Responses. Its flowers occur in showy clusters at the tips of the branches and on new wood, occurring from late spring to fall, depending on the rainfall. Its main habitat ranges from the low desert to the grasslands. An iconic desert cactus is the prickly pear with green, pad-like succulent leaves that are covered in spines. It is known commonly as desert willow or desert-willow because of its willow-like leaves, but it is not a true willow – being instead a member of the catalpa family. Desert willow needs full sun, but it’s not as picky about its soil. The desert willow planted at the Master Gardener Demonstration Garden does provide a little bit of shade to the succulents planted beneath it, but its real value lies in the rich blue-green of its leaves and the eye-catching color and shape of its sweet-smelling flowers. Not a true willow, Chilopsis linearis is a member of the family of blooming plants that includes Yellowbells and certain trumpet vines. Desert willows are bear a superficial resemblance to true willows due to their narrow, linear leaves and weeping form. Desert willow is not a true willow but with its long, slender weeping leaves it's a better substitute than the willow for the arid southwest region. It gets its common name from its long, linear leaves and billowy resemblance to actual willow trees. In dry summers, when it doesn't get water, desert willow blooms only in mid to late summer. A native of the It can either be grown as a shrub or developed as a tree that has many trunks. Burgundy Desert Willow. Although the natural growth is a very irregular shape, it can be readily pruned into a conventional tree shape. Need plan Root rot is a damaging disease that infects the desert willow if it is subjected to periods of standing water. It is always, whether I water it or leave it alone, yellow/ brown leaves, dark spots on the leaves, losing leaves. Combine multiple low-branching trunks, muted-green willowlike foliage and sweetly fragrant lavender, white, rose or burgundy spring and summer … A number of cultivars have been selected. Leaves Wilted, Discolored, Branches Cankered, Die Back Bacterial Blight - A blight caused by bacteria causes willow leaves to turn brown and wilt. Desert willow (Chilopsis linearis) is a native U.S. plant, growing in the American Southwest as well as Kansas and Oklahoma. Other uses of the herb: The young pliable twigs are woven into baskets. My neighbor has a plum tree that is blooming pretty well now but my desert willow looks like a bunch of sticks! Different cultivated varieties of desert willow offer flower colors of white, light pink, lavender, deep purple-red, and royal purple. Desert willow flowers bloom on the outermost branch tips. Those pollinators will create seed pods that dry out and crack open into white cotton-like tufts. Be the first to review this product. From: Wimberley Question: I have a desert willow. About two to four flowers at a time are open in each inflorescence. A North American native, desert willow grows wild in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Specific named cultivars have consistent growth characteristics. In disturbed areas, desert willow is used to stabilize the soil. family, desert willow is a spreading deciduous shrub or small tree that can surpass 16 feet in height on the Great Plains (Weedon 1986) to 40 feet in the desert southwest (TWC Staff 2010), and 15 to 25 feet wide (NMSUASC and NRCS 2001). Desert willow is a fast-growing tree reaching up to 30 feet with trumpet-shaped flowers and bright green, willow-like foliage. Height: 15 – 30 feet Width: 10 – 20 feet It gets its common name from its long, linear leaves and billowy resemblance to actual willow … Here in the Texas Hill Country, we’re on the eastern edge of the desert willow’s range, which extends all the way to the Pacific and south into Mexico. Its flowers are fragrant, pink to lavender. It is a shrub or tree native to the southwestern United States and Mexico. Other than a few frequent critters, the desert willow is entirely pest free, which eliminates the need for you to monitor it closely, looking for insects harmful to the plant. It has been in my yard about 5 years. But the leaves look willow-ish and the native peoples used it in the same way they used willows. There have been no flowers this year. During the cold season, desert willow will shed its leaves for up to six months. The Desert Willow has long thin, deciduous, lancelet-shaped leaves that it will loses in the Fall. Though not a willow, its linear leaves bring willow to mind, thus the name. This tree has a slender, twisting trunk and a spreading crown. Chilopsis is a monotypic genus of flowering plants containing the single species Chilopsis linearis. It is usually found below 5,000 feet (1,500 m).[5]. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. As the flowers fade, 12-inch-long seed pods develop, attracting birds to the tree. Palomo holds a Bachelor of Arts in liberal studies from Boston University. Desert willow trees grow 20 to 30 feet tall with a spread of 15 to 25 feet. The canopy of 4- to 12-inch-long, silver-green leaves gives desert willow a soft, flowing appearance in spring through late fall. Desert willows are best known for their showy flowers. Chilopsis linearis. The burgundy desert willow is very similiar to the native desert willow, its distinguishing characteristic being its much darker, purple flowers. Does a Desert Willow Lose Its Leaves? The cultivar "Monhews," commonly called Timeless Beauty, was developed for its long blooming period. Ranging from pale pink to pale violet, they give way to beanlike pods, 6-10 in. The long, slender leaves make you think of willow, but once you learn some desert willow tree facts, you’ll see that it is not in the willow family at all. now it … You can also grow desert willow in large patio planters and containers. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after … There have been no flowers this year. It is cultivated for its large, showy flowers, and tolerance of hot, dry climates. The desert willow is a small tree native to the Sonoran desert, a great choice for Tucson gardens. It’s similar to most other desert trees in that it can have a very shrubby growth … Its long narrow leaves resemble those of willows (Salix spp. Despite the common name Desert-willow, given because of its willow-like leaves, it is actually a member of the bignonia family, Bignoniaceae. Here in Arizona, you can’t drive more than a few miles without seeing a desert willow tree, with their pale pink blooms adorning the landscape. Despite the common name Desert-willow, given because of its willow-like leaves, it is actually a member of the bignonia family, Bignoniaceae. As the name suggest, this ash tree is native to our state and offers a fantastic canopy of dark green leaves for shading people and homes. Native to southwest U.S. and northern Mexico, this small, deciduous tree has narrow, bright green leaves and colorful, trumpet shaped flowers. It is commonly seen in washes and along riverbanks. Chilopsis may survive temperatures as low as 10 degrees F (-12 °C). Leaves are 6 to 12 inches long and narrow; deciduous. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. With their many trunks and branches, these trees can provide some seriously needed shade for us desert dwellers, and as they thrive in the region, they are pretty easy to care for with these few steps: Chilopsis linearis, Family Bigonia ( Bignoniaceae ), Desert Willow. Desert Willow trees can get 15-20 feet tall and have trumpet-shaped flowers with a sweet fragrance. This drought-tolerant, hardy tree … Its leaves are long and narrow, its flowers are orchid-like and have a lengthy flower period. Edible parts of Desert Willow: The blossoms and seedpods have been used for food. Chilopsis is a monotypic genus of flowering plants containing the single species Chilopsis linearis. Leaf Description. Desert willow reaches 30 feet in height and a width of 25 feet, with fairly loose, open branching. It gets its common name from its long, linear leaves and billowy resemblance to actual willow trees. Though its many common names refer to it as a willow, it is not related to the willow … Rather, they dry on the plant and slowly drop over a couple of months. The leaves are green, untoothed, narrowly linear, and somewhat sickle-shaped. Half the tree has leaves and blossoms, on the other half the leaves are dyeing and falling off. The desert willow qualifies for SRP’s Shade Tree Program as well. It has been used to treat fungal infections[6] such as candidiasis and athlete's foot, as well as wounds and cough. ), although they are not related. Sadly, desert willow leaves … DESERT WILLOW Chilopsis linearis. It features dark green bright leaves that can grow up to about 5 inches long that makes it develop a long, slender, willow-like leaves. My desert willow has stared losing its leaves. It’s extremely drought and heat tolerant and can virtually be ignored once it’s established. Light Upkeep. When a desert willow blooms, the large, trumpet-shaped flowers perfume the air and attract bees,... Landscape Use. These Southwest natives feature long and narrow willow-like leaves, hence their name. Flower colors range from white to purple, although a pale pink or a lavender flower color is common. The desert willow tree is a large deciduous shrub to small tree. Very drought tolerant; do not overwater, especially in winter. Because extreme winds can prevail in areas unexpectedly or because they’re prone to such weather conditions, it is important to stake a tree. They appear in May and keep blooming until late September or frost. The trunk grows up to 6 inches in diameter and has dark brown, scaly bark. A new cultivar with red flowers is "Lois Adams." It features dark green bright leaves that can grow up to about 5 inches long that makes it develop a long, slender, willow-like leaves. Their larvae resemble caterpillars, and are, on the average, 1/2 inch long. Complimentary plantings alongside the Desert Willow include the Palo Verde or Texas Ranger. The narrow leaves are 5 to 12 inches long and, although deciduous, provide no appreciable fall color change. In terms of appearance, these trees, with their many roots and branches, are intended to grow and look uniquely. With age, develops shaggy bark and twisting trunks. Native to desert washes and streambeds below 5,000 feet from California to Texas, south into Mexico.