Chilopsis
( kye - LOP - siss )
At-A-Glance Information
Chilopsis linearis, 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. 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.
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chilposis 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 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. |
'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. |
Caring for and pruning chilopsis shrubs
Desert Willow is a low-water shrub, making it a great choice for water-wise gardens. These shrubs are hardy down to 10 degrees Fahrenheit, and is fast growing. Plant in full sun in well-drained limestone-rich soil that is low in organic content. Allow the soil to completely dry out between waterings. If creating a tree from these shrubs, begin pruning when young to encourage a single trunk to form. Remove spent flowers to encourage reblooms. Each year in wintertime, cut back by a third to encourage a more bushy habit and more profuse blooms.
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
Propagating Chilopsis by Seed
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. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
- 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. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
- 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. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
- 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.
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:
Gallery
Videos
All about Chilopsis linearis.
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A short video about the Chilopsis linearis varietal 'Bubba'.
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In-depth information about the Desert Willow shrub.
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A Desert Willow video from... the desert!
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Pages 239, Chilopsis linearis (Desert Willow)
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