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Plant Detail

Chilopsis linearis

Scientific name	Chilopsis linearis
Common name	Desert Willow
Type	Trees
Variety	Deciduous
USDA Zone hardiness	6a - 11
Exposure	Full sun
Height	15 to 20'
Spread	15 to 20'

Desert Willow is a small deciduous flowering tree native to the hot dry deserts of the Southwest and California. The vanilla scented flowers bloom summer through fall, flower colors range from white with pale yellow throats, pink with red marking to light purple with dark purple markings. The flowers resemble hanging clusters of orchis which attract humming birds and bees, the flat curving seed pods will attract a number of passing birds during the fall and winter months (Some varieties are seedless). The long slender green leaves resemble true willows (Salix sp.) however it is a member of the Bignoniaceae family. The Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis) requires as little as 10 inches of water per year, perfectly suited for a xeric landscape. The Desert Willow grows best in gardens with sandy well-drained soil in full-sun. A relatively fast grower which can be pruned into a small multi-trunk tree, left alone it will develop as a large shrub. aka: Flowering Willow, Willowleaf Catalpa, Desert Catalpa, Flor de Mimbre, Mimbre, Bow Willow