Tamarix
( TAM - uh - riks )
At-A-Glance Information
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Commonly called Tamarisk, Athel Tree, Taray or Salt Cedar, this genus of deciduous shrubs and trees needs full sun and little to no water. They are tolerant of wind, aridity, and saline soils and can do well in seaside gardens as well as deserts. Native to dry areas in Eurasia and Africa, Tamarix was introduced to western North America in the mid-1800's as a plant used to prevent erosion and provide windbreaks. It is such an adaptable plant that it is considered invasive in many areas; check with your local authority before planting. These plants have deep taproots, so they are difficult to grow in nursery settings, but are simple to grow via cuttings. Leaves and flowers are small. Take care when planting these shrubs in the landscape, as prolonged contact with foliage can lead to skin irritation, and ingesting large quantities may cause digestive discomfort.
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Tamarix Species and Varietals
The genus Tamarix includes between 50-60 species and is a member of the plant family Tamariceae. The generic name originates from Latin and refers to the Tamaris River in Spain. The ideal growing zones vary depending on the species; see the descriptions below for more information. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
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Tamarix aphylla (Tamarix articulata) (Athel Tree, Athel Pine) This species of Tamarisk grows well in zones 7-24 and is native to the eastern Mediterranean regions. Cuttings will reach 10 feet or more in just 3 years, and reach 30-50 feet tall and 20-25 feet wide in 15 years. Flowers are white to pinkish, and bloom in clusters at branch tips in late summertime. Hardy to 0 degrees Fahrenheit and damaged in lower temperatures. Great as a windbreak tree. Very invasive roots. Cut back to the ground each year to keep a shrubby habit. |
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Tamarix chinensis (Salt Cedar, Chinese Tamarisk, Five-Stamen Tamarisk) This species is native to eastern Asia and grows in zones 4-24. It reaches 6-20 feet tall and 4-10 feet wide, with blue-green foliage and white, pink, or deep purple flowers. Blooms pop from late spring through summer. This species resists heat and cold, and has aggressive, spreading roots. Cut back to the ground each year to keep a shrubby habit. |
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Tamarix parviflora (Smallflower Tamarisk) Native to southeastern Europe, this species of Tamarisk grows well in zones 2-24 and forms a graceful, arching shrubby plant that reaches 6-15 feet tall and just as wide. Pink flowers bloom in springtime, and age to tan and then brown. Remove lower branches to encourage a more tree-like form. Considered invasive in deserts and wetlands in western North America. |
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Caring for and pruning tamarix shrubs
Note: Some species of Tamarix are considered to be invasive in some areas. Check with your local authority before planting.
Plant your shrub in full sun in well-draining soil that has a pH of between 6.0 and 8.5. These shrubs are considered very drought tolerant, and once established do not need any formal irrigation. Water new plants regularly to establish a strong root system. These shrubs are hardy and can tolerate a wide range of temperatures, but they are sensitive to extremely cold weather, so protection during severe winter weather may be required. They are not heavy feeders, and do not normally need feeding, though an application of a well-balanced fertilizer in springtime can do a lot in supporting the year's growth and flowering. Pruning these plants is relatively straightforward; simply do so to maintain a desirable size and shape for the garden space it is planted in. Crossing, badly formed, or damaged branches can be cut back to the next main branch. If your plant blooms in the early part of springtime, prune after blooms fade. If your plant blooms closer to late spring or summer, prune just before new spring growth begins. After wintertime passes, remove any frost damaged wood. These shrubs can also be cut back to the ground each year, and will regrow in a season. The best time for this type of rejuvenation pruning is in late winter.
Plant your shrub in full sun in well-draining soil that has a pH of between 6.0 and 8.5. These shrubs are considered very drought tolerant, and once established do not need any formal irrigation. Water new plants regularly to establish a strong root system. These shrubs are hardy and can tolerate a wide range of temperatures, but they are sensitive to extremely cold weather, so protection during severe winter weather may be required. They are not heavy feeders, and do not normally need feeding, though an application of a well-balanced fertilizer in springtime can do a lot in supporting the year's growth and flowering. Pruning these plants is relatively straightforward; simply do so to maintain a desirable size and shape for the garden space it is planted in. Crossing, badly formed, or damaged branches can be cut back to the next main branch. If your plant blooms in the early part of springtime, prune after blooms fade. If your plant blooms closer to late spring or summer, prune just before new spring growth begins. After wintertime passes, remove any frost damaged wood. These shrubs can also be cut back to the ground each year, and will regrow in a season. The best time for this type of rejuvenation pruning is in late winter.
Propagation
Tamarisk can be propagated either by using 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 plant, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Tamarix by Cutting
Propagating Tamarix by Seed
Propagating Tamarix 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 spring or early summertime, 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, 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 Tamarix by Seed
- Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. 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. The seeds are pretty easy to spot, they're attached to the branches, left behind after flowers have faded. Each seed has a number of hairs that they use to catch the wind, be pulled from their spot on the branch, and settle in to a new spot to grow. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. Make sure to plant the seeds in the same season, as they do not last long even when properly stored.
- 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 usually takes 7-14 days 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
Tamarix seeds remain on the branches after flowers have faded, and are wind-dispersed.
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Tamarix seeds are short-lived and do not store well. They should be planted as soon as possible after harvesting.
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Problems and Pests
Tamarx plants are commonly affected by the following pests and diseases:
- Oystershell Scale Insects
- Black Vine Weevil
- Root Knot Nemotode
- Rabbits
Gallery
Use Tamarix as a small specimen tree; they provide great color.
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These trees can provide lush foliage and colorful blooms to the landscape.
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These trees and shrubs can survive in very low-water conditions, and also do well near salty shorelines.
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Videos
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Learn about these amazing trees and shrubs.
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How to grow and care for Tamarisk plants.
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Pages 623 - 624, Tamarix (Tamarisk)
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