Scientific Family
Tamaricaceae
Synonyms
Tamarix pentandra, Tamarix juniperina
Other common names
salt cedar
Plant type
Trees
Riparian
Yes
Plant Description
Origin
Introduced
Shrub or small tree with numerous large basal branches that form extensive thickets. When in bloom, bears large clusters of showy, pink to white, tiny flowers in profusion.
Scale-like sessile leaves, similar to a cedar or juniper tree; highly branched, thick but wispy habit; clusters of pink to white flowers with flower parts numbering 5; smooth margined sepals; small, wind-borne cottony seeds.
Height
To 15 feet
Habitat
Habitat description
Water courses.
Plant Community
Riparian
Disturbed Areas
Low elevation
0
High elevation
6000
Leaves
Leaf color
Bluish-green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Other
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
No
Leaf Drop
Deciduous
Scale-like, triangular-ovate, broadest at base, sharp pointed tip, covered with a white waxy coating. Up to 1/8 inch long.
Flowers
Flower color
Pink to white
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
March
Last bloom month
August
Flowers are 5-petaled to 1/16 inch long and crowded in narrow, 1 to 2 inches long, short-branched, drooping, terminal clusters.
Flower clusters
Elongated
Fruit
Fruit color
Green to reddish-brown
Fruit type
Capsule
The smooth, round capsule is 1/2 inch wide and splits to release many tiny seeds. The seeds have small hairs at their tips and are dispersed by the wind.