Tamarix parviflora small-flowered tamarisk, salt cedar

Tamarisk (salt cedar) is a beautiful plant with tiny leaves and profusion of plume-like flowers. This one is called small-flowered and produces pink flowers from about mid May until early June. They are composed in short, 3-4 cm long racemes along arching twigs with reddish brown bark. Deciduous leaves are scale-like, mid green, very small. Overall appearance is feathery and very fluffy thanks to which the plant looks great in a Mediterranean-style landscape, or combined with other larger plants with leathery foliage.

Tamarisk grows medium fast and looks best when pruned annually. Cut back 80% of previous year's growth in early spring to encourage new growth with plentiful of flowers on a dense and compact shrub or crown.

Comparison of salt cedars cultivated in Central Europe:
- tamarix ramosissima – blooms in summer, upright habit, leaves are more blue-green
- tamarix parviflora – blooms in spring, arching, leggy habit if unpruned, leaves are more green

Tamarisk is also called salt cedar because it comes from SE Europe where it grows in sandy and salty soil and is able to absorb and exude salt from its leaves. The root system is fine on young plants but very vigorous and deep with age as it goes searching for water. Grow it in full sun, dry or medium moist soil. It does not need a specific pH or too fertile soil. However, if you prune it hard a portion of a slow-release fertilizer is recommended. Hardy to about -34°C (USDA zone 4).

Last update 16-02-2015