Mimbre Chilopsis linearis
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- chi-LOP-sis lin-ee-AIR-iss
- Description
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The common name Desert Willow is derived from its habitat of desert-like locations and its resemblance to the willow tree, to which it is not related. Considered phreatophyte, a deep-rooted plant that gets its water from the water table.
It's a Southwest US native deciduous shrub or multi-trunked small tree with showy fragrant pink tubular flowers in the willow family. Its native habitat includes along desert streams or sandy washes as well as canyons where subsurface water can be found for a good part of the year. These native areas include the eastern portion of the Mohave Desert in California, extending south into the upper Baja California, then east to southern Nevada, Arizona, southern New Mexico and western Texas.
It's leaning, twisted trunk make this plant a great addition to the garden or yard. Use this flowering tree as a hedge or in a winter interest or drought-tolerant garden. Growing quickly as a young plant, its grown will slow down as the plant matures.
Routine pruning during the first few years will encourage additional trunks to form. Cutting back by 1/3 during the winter dormancy period will encourage branching and blooming.
Deadheading will encourage additional blooms. Blooming on new wood, the more it gets pruned, the more flowers will be produced.
When grown as a shrub, it serves as a form of erosion control.
Wood from the Desert Willow has been used in making bows and baskets.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease issues. Aphids can be an occasional problem. Leaf scorch bacteria can also be an occasional problem. Its self-seeding make it a poor choice in the landscape.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Art's Seedless'
Sterile flowers and no fruit. - 'AZT Desert Amethyst'
Purple flowers - 'Bubba'
More vertical and less shrubby. - 'Lois Adams'
Large pink flowers, few seed pods - 'Lucretia Hamilton'
Deep pink to purple flowers - 'Regal'
Deep pink-purple flowers - var. linearis
Native to UT, AZ, NM, TX and Mexico - 'Warren Jones'
Deep pink-purple flowers - 'White Storm'
Smaller tree/shrub with white flowers
- 'Art's Seedless'
- 'Art's Seedless', 'AZT Desert Amethyst', 'Bubba', 'Lois Adams', 'Lucretia Hamilton', 'Regal', var. linearis, 'Warren Jones', 'White Storm'
- Tags:












- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Art's Seedless'
Sterile flowers and no fruit. - 'AZT Desert Amethyst'
Purple flowers - 'Bubba'
More vertical and less shrubby. - 'Lois Adams'
Large pink flowers, few seed pods - 'Lucretia Hamilton'
Deep pink to purple flowers - 'Regal'
Deep pink-purple flowers - var. linearis
Native to UT, AZ, NM, TX and Mexico - 'Warren Jones'
Deep pink-purple flowers - 'White Storm'
Smaller tree/shrub with white flowers
- 'Art's Seedless'
- 'Art's Seedless', 'AZT Desert Amethyst', 'Bubba', 'Lois Adams', 'Lucretia Hamilton', 'Regal', var. linearis, 'Warren Jones', 'White Storm'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Chilopsis
- Species:
- linearis
- Family:
- Bignoniaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used in arid location landscape designs.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and southwestern U.S.A., Mexico
- Distribution:
- AZ, CA, NM, TX
- Wildlife Value:
- While in bloom, this plant will attract hummingbirds and bees. It is a host plant.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Buffer
- Colorful
- Easy to Grow
- Fragrance
- Shade
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-trunked
- Open
- Spreading
- Weeping
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 1/4" wide seed pods 6"-12" long with winged seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Trumpet
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- fused petals
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Large trumpet-shaped pink, lavender or white flowers that resemble Catalpa. They flower on 2-4 inch panicles.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Narrow lanceolate leaves
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Shaggy, light gray and smooth
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Slender twigs
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Slope/Bank
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Flowering Tree
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Heat