NICE! Plant of the Month
(Chilopsis linearis)
Image courtesy of Uvalde Research and Extension
Center, Texas A&M University System
Description:
Desert Willow is not really a willow at all, but is so named because of its willow-like leaves and supple, flexible willow-like stems. It is a member of the Catalpa family or trumpet-creeper family. The natural range of Desert Willow is in dry streambeds and desert draws in the western and Tran-Pecos regions of Texas. It also occurs in California and Mexico. Desert willow is fast growing and drought tolerant. It may attain a height of 15 to 25 feet. Its leaves are deciduous. The seedpods are long and narrow and are packed with cottony seeds. Its fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers are one of its best attributes. Several named varieties with lovely, showy flowers are available in nurseries. The flowers may be from white to burgundy with all shades in between. Blooming period is from spring until fall. The flowers of Desert Willow have a pleasant pungent scent; its nectar attracts hummingbirds, bees, moths and other insects. Desert Willow has been historically used for firewood, basket making, bows, fence posts and medicinal purposes. Also known as Desert Catalpa, Flowering Willow, and Mimbre.
Deer Resistance:
Young seedlings should be protected from browsing. The trunks of saplings and older trees should be protected from antler damage.
Planting Sites:
Desert Willow will tolerate poor soil, but will do better in a well-drained planting site that has improved soil and room for root expansion. Plant in full sun and allow for upward and outward growth. Spacing should be 10 to 15 feet apart.
Planting Instructions:
Dig hole at least 2 times wider than, but the same depth as the root ball in the nursery container. Carefully remove tree from container, taking care not to break the root ball. Loosen exterior roots, if root bound. Plant at the same depth as the soil in the container. Do not add any soil to the top of the root ball. Adding a layer of 3-4 inches of mulch after planting is desirable.
Watering Instructions:
After planting, water the plant well in order to thoroughly soak its roots. Repeat watering a few days after planting. Water deeply every 7-10 days, checking an inch or two into soil at edge of root ball to determine soil moisture. Skip a watering after a rainfall of ½ to 1 inch.
First fall/winter:
Maintain this watering schedule until the first fall after planting. Reduce water during fall and winter. In a “normal” year, no watering may be necessary in fall and winter, but during a dry period, monthly watering may be desirable.
Second spring and thereafter:
Water monthly only in periods of drought. Once established, Desert Willow will survive with little supplemental irrigation.
NICE! Tip:
Desert Willow may be left as a bushy plant or carefully pruned into a tree form. Some specimens may adapt a tree-like form without pruning. Plant Desert Willow instead of non-native flowering trees such as crape myrtle, ligustrum, and mimosa. When planted as an accent tree, Desert Willow will not only provide esthetic value, it will enhance the natural habitat of your landscape.
Look for the NICE! Plant of the Month signs and information sheets on your next visit to a participating Boerne nursery. And thank you for supporting native plants by using them in your landscapes.