Desert Willow

Chilopsis linearis – Desert Willow, Flowering Willow, Willowleaf Catalpa, Flor De Mimbre

A prized Texas native, Desert Willow is a fast-growing deciduous small tree or large shrub with a prolonged blooming season. This makes it especially pollinator-friendly and a great pick for seasonal interest in the landscape. Though not a true willow, it has a similar airy form with long, narrow leaves. It produces clusters of striking flowers over much of the growing season, usually in shades of pink, followed by long, bean-like seed pods.

As the name implies, Desert Willow can tolerate tough summer conditions making it a great choice for hot, sunny spots like in parkways and along driveways. A good replacement for non-native summer bloomers, Crape Myrtle and Rose of Sharon. 

Growing Requirements

Light: Full Sun
Water: Low

Plant in full sun for best performance. Tolerates drought, heat, and poor soil conditions, but overly wet soils can cause rot. It doesn’t grow quite as quickly or as tall in our clay soils but will do just fine if provided good drainage. To improve drainage plant in a berm or make a small hill in the middle of the planting area. Or amend the soil with compost or expanded shale. Never plant in a low spot. Cold hardy to 10°F. If temperatures look to be dropping too low, protect young plants with frost cloth. 

In the Landscape

Average Size: 15-25 feet tall x 10-25 feet wide
Spacing: 15-20 feet
Classification: Large Shrub, Ornamental Tree, Deciduous Tree
Uses: Focal Point, Specimen, Erosion Control, Shelterbelt, Fragrant, Wildlife Habitat
In tree form, its wispy willow-like structure makes it a good companion for underplanting of bulbs and short, flowering perennials, such as Gregg’s Mistflower, Pigeonberry, and Golden Groundsel. Grown as a larger shrub, it can serve as privacy screening or a windbreak. Its compact size makes it good for small spaces, around decks, patios, and sidewalks. Just be sure to give it full sun without any overhead tree cover.

Seasonal Interest: Spring, Summer, Fall
Large, fragrant orchid-like flowers set against bright green foliage. Colors range based on cultivar, varying from white to shades of pink and burgundy/purple, in both solid and duotone, often seen with white and yellow streaks. Blooming extends throughout the warm weather season – most prolifically in late spring, then sporadically following rain, through to the first frost. Dangling 6-12″ seedpods appear in the fall. Desert Willow goes dormant over winter, shedding its leaves until spring when it regrows its foliage.

Wildlife: Nectar attracts pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. A larval host for the White-winged moth. Birds eat the seeds. Moderately deer and rabbit resistant.

Care & Maintenance

Once established, Desert Willow is extremely drought tolerant and can grow without much supplemental water. To keep it blooming, water occasionally through the summer months, and make sure the soil dries out in between watering. Use a moisture meter to check the soil moisture before irrigating.

Flowers grow on new growth, so prune in late winter while dormant to increase flowering. Also prune to shape as a shrub, train into a single or multi-trunk tree form, or to raise canopy. Apply organic fertilizer or compost just before new spring growth.

Problems & Troubleshooting

Too much water and fertilizing creates rapid growth but a weaker plant with fewer blooms. Overwatering can also lead to rot. Flower and seed pod litter may be problematic in certain settings; be mindful of this when choosing a planting site. Otherwise no pest or disease issues of note.

Resources and References

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center | Native Plant Society of Texas
Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas by George Oxford Miller

1. Photo by Eleanor Pate via iNaturalist. Licensed under CC BY 4.0. Original image cropped with minor exposure adjustments. ↩︎
2. License CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo by Almapayokels via Wikimedia Commons. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Original image cropped with minor exposure adjustments. ↩︎
3. Photos by (L) Wendy McCrady via iNaturalist, licensed under CC BY 4.0; (R) Scott Loarie via iNaturalist, licensed under CC0. Original images cropped/configured with minor exposure adjustments for side-by-side presentation. . ↩︎
4. Photos by (L) Dawn Nelson via iNaturalist, licensed under CC BY 4.0; (M) Rob Foster via iNaturalist, licensed under CC BY 4.0; (R) Kayli_Photography via Pixabay. Original images cropped/configured with minor exposure adjustments for side-by-side presentation. ↩︎