Tamarix

More Information About Tamarix

Tamarix is a genus of more than 50 species of xeric, woody shrubs from Africa and Europe east into China and Japan. Eight Tamarix species were brought into the US during the 1930s to be planted in the western states for erosion control. Unfortunately, Tamarix proved to be somewhat invasive in the West and displaced cottonwoods and willows along riparian areas from Texas to Montana and California.

However, Tamarix is quite well behaved in most of the US and makes a wonderful, drought-tolerant ornamental plant. One species is used most often in the East, Tamarix ramosissima, aka salt cedar. Tamarix has some beautiful ornamental traits which include a smooth, reddish-brown bark, small, bluish-green, scale-like leaves, and tufts of tiny, pink, butterfly-attracting flowers.

As its common name implies, Tamarix is quite tolerant of salty environments and can grow near salt water or in salty soils. It also makes a good rain garden plant. Although Tamarix ramosissima is technically a shrub, it is large enough that it can be pruned into a tree-form with one or many trunks. I also doubles as a garden perennial, and can easily be cut to the ground to enjoy the flowers at a lower level. Tamarix is a tough, easy-to-grow, attractive plant that provides both summer interest (leaves and flowers) and winter interest (bark). When you're ready to buy tamarix for your perennial garden, we hope you'll check out our online offering of tamarix for sale.