Chilopsis

( kye - LOP - siss )

At-A-Glance Information

Chilopsis, commonly called Desert Willow or Desert Catalpa, is a deciduous shrub or tree that requires full sun, little to moderate water, and its fragrant flowers will attract hummingbirds to the garden. It is native to Mexico and the Southwestern desert areas of the United States, and can grow to be 15-30 feet tall and 10-20 feet wide. Trunks are beautifully twisting with shaggy bark. Leaves mimic those of the Willow tree, and trumpet-shaped blooms appear in spring through fall. Grow these trees and shrubs as specimens in the landscape, where they will add beautiful foliage and flower color in spring and summertime.

chilopsis Linearis Varietals

Chilopsis linearis is the only species in the genus Chilopsis, which is a member of the family Catalpeae. Although the common name for this species is Desert Willow, these plants are not related to Willow trees; they were given this name because their leaves mimic the look of Willow leaves. Desert Willow blooms in USDA hardiness zones 7-11 or Sunset growing zones 3b, 7-14, and 18-23. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

'Art's Seedless'
This is a variety that has sterile flowers; it produces no seed pods.

'AZT Desert Amethyst'
Flowers are all-purple, and can grow to be 15-30 feet tall and wide.

'Bubba'
This species has purple and lavender flowers that bloom through summer and fall. Can grow up to 20 feet tall and wide.

'Burgundy' ('Burgundy Lace')
Has deep purple flowers.

'Hope'
This shrub has white flowers with a pale yellow throat. Growth is wispy and open.

'Lois Adams'
Profuse blooms in a magenta-pale lavender two-tone color scheme. Has no seedpods. This is a more compact species with upright growth.

'Lucretia Hamilton'
Blooms in dark purple flowers in large clusters. Grows 15-18 feet tall and wide.

'Regal'
This plant has a combination of lavender and wine-red flowers. Blooms are flat-faced and open throated; makes a great display.

'Timeless Beauty'
This season has a long blooming time, and flowers are two-toned lavender and burgundy. Has no seedpods, and can grow to be 15-20 feet tall and wide.

'Warren Jones'
Blooms on this shrub are large and ruffled, colored pink with a paler throat. Leaves hold on for a longer season than other species, so long that it is considered evergreen in the warmest climates.

Caring for chilopsis

Plant Chilopsis trees or shrubs in a space in the landscape that receives full sun; ideally, they appreciate between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day for the best blooms. Install these plants between 15 and 20 feet apart for best airflow. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 6.0 and 9.0 (slightly acidic to alkaline). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, Chilopsis plants are considered drought-tolerant, able to get by on rainwater for much of the year with supplemental waterings during extended periods of drought. Allow soil to completely dry out between waterings

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. Pruning is simple; remove any damaged, diseased, or dead foliage at any time during the growing season. Each year in wintertime, cut back by a third to encourage a more bushy habit and more profuse blooms. If creating a more of a tree from these somewhat shrubby plants, begin pruning when they are young to encourage a single trunk to form. These plants are hardy down to 10 degrees Fahrenheit; younger trees may need to be protected from hard frosts. Chilopsis shrubs and trees are considered long-lived perennials, persisting for between 40 and 150 years in the landscape before needing to be replaced. Most species will reach their full size in between 10 and 15 years, putting on 2-3 feet per year during establishment if cared for properly.

Propagation

Desert Willow can be propagated either by using semi-hardwood cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your shrub or tree, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Chilopsis by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In late summer, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth on your propagated Chilopsis, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Chilopsis by Seed

Keep in mind that the Chilopsis plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant, especially if you are working with a hybrid variety. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds in late summer or early fall, when the seed pods have dried and turned brown. The seed pods on Desert Willow plants are pretty easy to spot, they're large and dangle from the branches, left behind after flowers have faded. Just before they have dried out and begun to split open, cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will begin to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination occurs within 1-4 weeks from sowing.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Desert Willow seed pods dangle from branches after flowers have faded.

Seeds are contained inside seed pods, and are attached to white hairs.

Problems and Pests

Desert Willow is not commonly affected by pest or disease. For information on common pests and diseases encountered in home gardens, consult the following pages:

Pests & Pest Management

Plant Issues