Arizona Wild Flowers
Wildflower Pictures And Photos

Tamarisk, Tamarix, chinensis

Tamarisk, Tamarix, chinensis

Plant Known As Saltcedar, Salt Cedar, Or Tamarisk	Tamarisk Is Invasive Plant Not Native To Arizona
There Is Concern That Tamarisk Will Crowd Out Native Plants	Tamarisk Flowers

Tamarisk Tamarix, chinensis, Tamarisk Family, ( Tamaricaceae ), Tamarisk. Also called: Saltcedar, or Salt Cedar. Starting in the 1850s, several species of tamarisk were imported to the United States as ornamentals and for use in erosion control from North Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East. Tamarisk has quickly spread into natural wetlands, where it tends to form dense thickets along streams and springs, displacing native trees such as cottonwood, willow and mesquite. Tamarisk has invaded almost all of the watercourses and other wetland habitats throughout the Southwest. Tamarisk is easily distinguished by its feather, needle-like leaves and small, pink flowers at the ends of the branches. it is estimated that up to 500,000 small, windblown seeds can be produced per plant. This enables it to take over an area very easily. Saltcedars are invasive and they have bred with so many other salt cedars that they are very difficult to distinguish from species to species. Height: Large shrubs or small trees 8-16 feet tall and usually less wide. Flowers: Pink to near-white, densely crowded along branched terminal spikes. Blooming Time: January to October. Fruit & Seeds: The fruit and seeds are tiny, brown, and inconspicuous. Leaves: Feather, needle-like green leaves. Found: Found throughout Arizona. near waterways. Elevation: 0 - 6000 Feet. Habitat: Tamarisks occur mostly on low ground where water collects. They are most abundant in riparian habitats, both natural and artificial, often in extensive pure stands. They are less common in drier places. They thrive in alkaline and saline soils. Miscellaneous: Flowering Photos Taken: March 31, 2003. In Glendale.