Eleven states have declared this species a noxious weed. It's an invasive pest species on the shores of rivers, lakes, and irrigation canals in arid regions of the US, from Texas to North Dakota and west to California. There it forms impenetrable thickets, and increases the salt content of the soil. According to BONAP, it has naturalized in 30 states.
It is also a problem on the Atlantic coast of some southeastern states. It doesn't seem to be a problem in the northeastern US.
The foliage is feathery and graceful. The winter appearance is scraggly.
As an ornamental, it's best cut back hard annually like a buddleia---regrowth is fast and vigorous, and bloom occurs on new growth. It sometimes needs staking for support, as the root system often isn't strong enough mechanically to hold the top growth upright.
I have one plant of 'Pink Cascade' and it has behaved itself for six years. I prune it almost to the ground every year and get a beautif...Read Moreul spray of misty green early and then a spectacular cloud of pink in the summer. I have counted at least twenty different bees and wasps as well as several butterflies sipping nectar from the flowers. While it may not provide food for insect larvae, it certainly is a good nectar source. I planted it in an 'island' garden bed and have not seen any escapees, so I'm assuming it is not prone to invasiveness here in Delaware. I have not noticed any of the surrounding plants suffering from Tamarix stealing water. Since others have warned of invasiveness, I'm keeping a keen eye on this one, but I'd hate to give it up.
Yes, tamarix can be invasive & is a weed tree, supplanting other valuable native species & hogging water supplies. In such places, tamari...Read Morex should NOT be used. By checking what the invasive, noxious, & weed plants are for your area, you can decide to use or not.
But in our area, tamarix are NOT invasive & water (rainfall) is one thing we have in plenty, living on the edge of a temperate rainforest. I've seen a few tamarix here only & most people don't seem to appreciate them or prune them for the best effect. Very few grow here really.
A smaller, shrub version like 'Pink Cascade' would be ideal. I'm redoing my gardens since we now own our own place & the yard needs to be managed nicely. We have to cope with wild Himalayan blackberries (very nasty) & wild morning glory (pops up everywhere) instead. I'm on the lookout for a local nursery selling 'Pink Cascade' & hope to be able to add it to my shrub collection.
I'd love to grow a silk mimosa (Albizia julibrissin) instead but it leafs out late in the spring & drops leaves very early in fall - just borderline hardy here. So a shrubby tamarix is a good substitute for me!
This plant is listed on many invasive species lists and has proven to be extremely detrimental to western USA riparian areas. The plant ...Read Moreagressively uses up water reserves and further causes desertification. There are active quarantines across many states. Named cultivars may not be exempt from these regulations. Responsible gardeners subscribe to the Voluntary Code of Conduct and the St. Louis Accords.
From the ISSG Global 100 Invasive List
"Tamarix ramosissima is a deciduous shrub and can appear as a small tree that can grow in many different substrates. It can be found where its roots reach the water table, such as floodplains, along irrigation ditches and on lake shores and it can tolerate a wide range of saline or alkaline soils. This species can replace or displace native woody species. It is a poor quality food resource for aquatic consumers, and the stems change the landscape properties of gravel and cobble islands and bars. T. ramosissima supports few native insects and thus is poor habitat for birds. It is able to dominate floodplain communities in the deserts of the Southwest United States due to its ability to tolerate water stress for extended periods of time. An integrated management approach that incorporates multiple control techniques is required to manage this species.
Common Names: salt cedar, Sommertamariske, tamarisk, tamarix "
This plant is listed on the North Dakota invasive/troublesome list and this information is being distributed in a guide developed by the ...Read MoreND Weed Control Association and other agencies.
Plant Features
Perennial, up to 30 feet tall
Evergreen/cedar-like shrub or small tree
Loses all of it's leaves in the fall
Leaves soft, scale-like, turn yellow/reddish before dropping in late fall
Bark is scaly and reddish on older plants, smooth and reddish on younger plants
Large stout taproot with a slender upright or branched trunk
Flowers abundant, white to pink, 5 petals, located on the ends of branches
Blooms May through September
Spreads by plant fragments and pepper size/like seed
Distribution:
Widespread invasive found in ornamental landscape plantings and in moist areas (waterways, shorelines, etc.)
Interesting Facts:
May transpire up to 200 gallons of water daily
Suppresses growth of other plants by excreting salt (increases soil salinity).
Roots known to reach 50 foot depths.
A single plant may produce over half-million seeds per year
The World Conservation Union has included this species in their list of 100 of the world's worst invasive species, one of only 32 terrest...Read More
I have one plant of 'Pink Cascade' and it has behaved itself for six years. I prune it almost to the ground every year and get a beautif...Read More
Yes, tamarix can be invasive & is a weed tree, supplanting other valuable native species & hogging water supplies. In such places, tamari...Read More
This plant is listed on many invasive species lists and has proven to be extremely detrimental to western USA riparian areas. The plant ...Read More
This plant is listed on the North Dakota invasive/troublesome list and this information is being distributed in a guide developed by the ...Read More