As its name paint a picture , the desert willow tree likes it hot and wry . Not a true willow tree , the desert willow ( Chilopsis linearis , USDA hardiness geographical zone 7 to 11 ) is a native of west Texas and the Edwards Plateau in Northcentral Texas , along with other area in the Southwest , including the Mojave Desert in California , Nevada , Arizona and portion of Mexico . This tree is known by several mutual names include curtain call willow , willowleaf catalpa , flowering willow and mimbre .
The most important aspect of growing this aboriginal tree is to ensure that it is n’t overwatered .
About the Desert Willow Tree
The desert willow is a small , deciduous flowering tree . While its development rate is rapid when young , ontogeny slows as the tree diagram matures . you may grow the desert willow as a large shrub or a tree variant .
Attractive to hummingbird , bees and other pollinators , its flowers are showy and cornet - shaped in colors of pink , lavender or white , resembling those ofsouthern catalpa(Catalpa bignonioides , zones 5 to 9 ) , which is closely touch to the desert willow tree . In fact , horticulturists have combined the two bush to make a unimaginative hybrid cultivar calledchitalpa(×Chitalpatashkentensis , zone 6 to 9 ) .
The desert willow ’s pass flower develop 8 - inch seed pods that , if not removed , remain on the tree diagram throughout the play along winter .
Tip
Because the germ pods allow food for birds , annul off them until spring . The intercrossed chitalpa is sterile , so it does n’t develop these pod .
In its native home ground , the desert willow grows in arroyos , which are dry brook beds that can fill with water a couple of meter a yr during heavy pelting , providing this tree with the free energy to put on newfangled emergence and to blossom .
Planting a Desert Willow
Most importantly , choose a locating in full sun with well - draining dirt and provide enough space for this small-scale tree to spread to its mature altitude and width of 15 to 20 feet . The desert willow is forgiving regarding soil pH , being capable to develop in acid , neutral and alkaline soils .
Irrigation and Fertilization
Once instal , the desert willow tree is drouth tolerant and will need little or no irrigation in most climates . Although if the summer is very hot and teetotal , a good drenching once a month will help it retain green outgrowth and vivacious flowers .
Warning
The most important aspect of growing this tree is to see to it that it does n’t become waterlogged , according toTexas A&M University . If your area experiences more than 30 inches of pelting each year , found the tree in a raise bed or on a slope .
This is an easy - to - grow tree that call for no fertiliser or peculiar fear as long as it ’s growing in a spicy , desert location .
Pruning and Flower Production
If you require your desert willow to develop a shrub complex body part with multiple branches , prune it regularly during its early years to encourage it to grow multiple trunks .
The flowers bloom on newfangled woodwind instrument , so the more you lop , the more flowers you will get .
prune it back by 1/3 its size when it is hibernating further advance more fork and bloom .
