Plant Type: Native, Tree
Foliage Character: Winter deciduous, Drought deciduous
Habit: Upright, Open, Mounding, Low-branching
Growth Rate: Moderate
Foliage Color: Bright green
Flower Color: Pink, White, Purple
Flower Season: Summer, Spring
Soil Adaptations: Well-draining soil, Sand, Deep soil, Clay
Exposure Adaptations: Heat, Frost, Drought, Aridity, All day sun
Function: Shade Tree, Screening, Attracts butterflies, Raised planters, Parks and open space, Foundations, Flowering accent plant, Background plant, Attracts bees, Wildlife value, Specimen
Height: 15 ft. – 30 ft. (rarely)
Width: 15 ft. – 20 ft.
The Desert willow is well adapted to all parts of the Inland Empire where it can be sustained with normal winter rainfall and low amounts of summer water. Periodic deep water is recommended in summer; this will sustain the best flowering performance and help maintain good foliage character. The chart below provides a baseline irrigation schedule for this species. It should be noted there are several winter months marked by an asterisk (*) when rains can provide sufficient moisture and irrigation is not needed. The high and low range of moisture indicates it can grow with varying amounts of water depending upon exposure conditions and size.
|
Jan* |
Feb* |
Mar* |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov* |
Dec* |
Runs per Month |
0x to 2x |
0x to 2x |
0x to 2x |
1x to 2x |
1x to 2x |
1x to 2x |
1x to 2x |
1x to 2x |
1x to 2x |
1x to 2x |
0x to 2x |
0x to 2x |
Inches per Run |
1″ |
1″ |
1″ |
1″ |
1″ |
1″ |
1″ |
1″ |
1″ |
1″ |
1″ |
1″ |
|
Inches per Month |
0″ to 2″ |
0″ to 2″ |
0″ to 2″ |
1″ to 2″ |
1″ to 2″ |
1″ to 2″ |
1″ to 2″ |
1″ to 2″ |
1″ to 2″ |
1″ to 2″ |
0″ to 2″ |
0″ to 2″ |
Range of supplemental summer water: 7"-14"
Range of supplemental winter water: 0"-10"
|
0″-2″ |
0″-2″ |
0″-2″ |
1″-2″ |
1″-2″ |
1″-2″ |
1″-2″ |
1″-2″ |
1″-2″ |
1″-2″ |
0″-2″ |
0″-2″ |
|
Jan* |
Feb* |
Mar* |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov* |
Dec* |
For more information on how to use this Irrigation Schedule and Graph, follow this link.
For information how to calculate your irrigation system’s schedule and precipitation rate, please follow this link.
Prune when dormant in winter as needed. While this is seen in built landscapes as either a single trunk or a multi-trunk tree, desert willows are really best grown as multi-trunk or low branching trees. Desert willows purchased as a single trunk tree often develop a significant lean in the first few years after planting and just look funny. Multi-trunk or low branching trees may be selectively pruned by removing branches when young to set up a nice, semi-open form. Desert willows can be coppiced if needed, by cutting the trunk(s) all the way to the ground, preferably in the winter. In the spring, multiple vigorous shoots will emerge and quickly form new branches. A single trunk desert willow was planted outside the Waterwise Community Center offices. It developed a severe lean as described above. After being cut to the ground, it regrew as a beautiful multi-trunk specimen which looks better than ever before. With the exception of some specific cultivars, most desert willows hold on to their dried seed pods into the winter after the tree looses its leaves. I consider them ornaments and wildlife food. They bother some people. These people can spend their time pruning them off if they really want to (S).
References