Desert willow is a deciduous tree native to the foothills of the Mojave and Colorado Deserts. It has graceful drooping branches and produces large pink or purple flowers from April to September followed by distinctive tan seedpods. Desert willow is very adaptable and can be used as a street, lawn, or patio tree to provide shade while being drought tolerant once established with occasional deep watering. It attracts birds and hummingbirds and requires full sun and well-drained soil.

1. * Desert Willow – Chilopsis linearis ssp. arcuata
(kye-LOP-sis lin-ee-AIR-iss)
Family: Bignoniaceae (Trumpet-Creeper Family)
Native to: Foothills of the Mojave and Colorado Deserts from CA & AZ into Mexico; in rocky washes,
depressions and desert grasslands. Common in some areas.
deciduous tree
mature height: 15-30 ft.
mature width: 15-30 ft.
Small tree or large woody shrub – tree-like in garden setting. Winter deciduous for several months
– will look quite bare. Growth form is open, with a spreading crown and graceful drooping branches.
Often multi-trunked, but can be trained to a single-trunk tree. Leaves light green, willow-like. Bark
becomes fissured with age. Long, distinctive seedpods remain on tree through winter.
Growth characteristics:
Long bloom period – April to Aug/Sept. Flowers are reminiscent of Catalpa or
orchids; dark pink or purple, often with white or yellow and purple lines within the throat. Flowers
are large (1 ½ inch) & showy, slightly fragrant, in clusters at the tips of branches.
Distinctive
slender tan seedpods remain on tree through winter.
Blooms/fruits:
Uses in the garden: Very adaptable tree in the water-wise landscape. Can be used as a street, lawn
or patio tree, even in areas with some summer water. Provides filtered to dense shade – can plant
under it. Fine in large raised planters. Great for stabilizing slopes and banks. Useful as a screen,
windbreak, summer shade tree for S-facing walls. Provides a lush-looking accent in dry gardens.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native (invasive) large shrubs such as Albizia julibrissin (silktree),
Buddleja davidii (orange eye butterflybush), Elaeagnus angustifolia (Russian olive), Acacia species.
Attracts: Excellent bird habitat: provides cover and seeds for food and nectar for hummingbirds.
Requirements:
Element
Sun
Soil
Water
Fertilizer
Other
Requirement
Full sun best; fine in hot, sunny spots.
Any well-drained soil, even clays – cannot take standing water in winter; any local
pH including alkali (up to pH 9.0).
Zone 2 once established; water deeply when soil gets dry.
None
Inorganic mulch if desired.
Prune to shape young trees.
Branches droop – requires yearly pruning.
remove seedpods in winter to improve appearance. Fairly pest-free with appropriate watering.
Management:
Propagation: from seed: fresh seed in spring
Can
by cuttings: hard & semi-softwood, easy
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 20, 24,25, 27, 28
2/13/11
* Native to CA but not to Western L.A. Co.
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