Desert Willow- Chilopsis linearis

 From the Catalpa family –
Desert Willow

Southwest Plant of the Month-

Desert Willow- Chilopsis linearis

This tree is called a “willow” because of how its leaves are shaped – however, it is a relative of the catalpa and can grow either into bushes or small trees. It is a deciduous tree with long narrow leaves from 6 to 12 inches long and the fruit of the tree look like long green “beans” which can grow to the length of the tree’s leaves. This New Mexico native is a flowering tree and the bell-shaped flowers range in colors from white to deep pink and sometimes lavender and it is a popular tree for ornamental purpose and for erosion control. It easily propagates from seeds or cuttings and your hummingbirds will love its flowers! The Desert Willow grow quickly and love more water when they are young but are drought tolerant, needing very little watering in the winter and especially as an adult and need full sun to flourish.
Scientific name: Chilopsis linearis
Family: Bignoniaceae
Habit: Tree
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate, Opposite
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Lanceolate, Linear
Leaf Venation: Pinnate
Leaf Pubescence: Glabrous
Breeding System: Flowers Unisexual, Monoecious
Size: 15-40 feet
Leaf: Green
Flower: Flowers 1-1.5 inch flowers in 2-4 inch panicles
Fruit: Green to brown 4-12 inches
Size Class: 12-36 ft.
Pest resistance: free of serious pests and diseases