The Desert Willow Tree (Chilopsis linearis) is a low-watering and spring-blooming tree. It does well in the In dry arid areas of the Southwest.  The leaf is long, narrow and curved thus its botanical name Linearis.

The one pictured below is the most common.  There are several varieties that you can use for your desert landscaping needs.  A true native Desert willow tree is prevalent along the arroyos and ditch banks of the desert southwest.  Desert Willows are drought tolerant after the first year of planting.  They propagate themselves when the seed pods dry and fall to the ground.  USDA zones 7-9.

The natural or native desert willow is drought tolerant and provides long-lasting blooms. It is deciduous in the southwest with long purple trumpet-like flowers. Moderate grower up to 30ft. tall and 15ft wide. You can trim it for a great-looking medium-size shade tree or leave it alone for a multi-trunk type large shrub. Plant several of them in a row for a tremendous border-type shrub.

Burgundy Desert Willow

Below is the  Chilopsis linearis ‘Burgundy’ desert willow.  Very similar to the one above but the flowers are a darker burgundy color, thus it’s named. The height and width are the same as the native Desert Willow.  More about this tree over at monrovia.com

The Timeless Beauty Desert Willow Tree (Chilopsis Linearis)

This is a drought-tolerant small desert tree and will do well in a desert landscape.  Unlike the other Desert Willows mentioned above this one produces no seed pods and blooms longer than the regular Desert Willow. This means minimal cleanup or maintenance during the fall season.

Hummingbirds and butterflies love the trumpet-like blooms—a beautiful easy-care tree for rock landscapes or Xeriscape Gardens.

A good companion shrub for the Desert Willow Tree would be the Yellow Bird of Paradise plant.
Another good shrub is the Red Bird of Paradise plant

It is a longer, more colorful desert gardening smaller tree. Ask for them at your nearest Garden Store. Guzman’s Garden Centers will usually have this type of tree in stock during the spring and summer seasons.  Will do well in USDA Zone: 7-9.

You can see pictures and more information over at Monrovia.com website.

The Rio Salado Desert Willow

Chilopsis linearis ‘Rio Salado’” is another variety that will grow about 15ft. tall and wide.  It is drought-tolerant and produces bright purple flowers in early spring.

Check out our Xeriscape Landscaping Ideas Page.

Insects on Desert Willow Trees

Desert Willow trees are insect and disease-resistant, but they will sometimes develop problems.  One insect that attacks these trees is the flathead borer.  Keep your eye on borers underneath the bark this is where they will hide and do damage.  It’s best to treat desert willow trees with systemic insecticides.

Spraying with dormant or agricultural oil during the late winter seasons will help keep insect larvae from hatching.  Thus, fewer insects during the spring and summer seasons. Do this early every spring to keep the insect population at bay

The Bubba Desert Willows

A hybrid Desert Willow tree suited for hot climates it is named after Warren Jones, an author, dendrophile, and professor of Landscape Architecture at the University of Arizona. Pink blooms and fewer seed pods to deal with.  You can read more about these Hyrbrid trees that are adapted to arid dry climates at Nurserymag.

The “Sweet Bubba Jones” Desert Willow from Civano Nurseries.  Larger blooms and dark burgundy color.  This Hybrid Desert Willow is seedless.

Native Desert Willow Trees Lifespan

The desert willow (Chilopsis linearis) can live between 40 and 150 years, according to the USDA, a true native Desert Willows tree can live up to 100 years.  However, for them to live over 100 years they must be cared for accordingly. This tree is native to the Southwestern U.S. and Northern Mexico and can grow in hot, sunny, dry areas that are below 5,000 feet in elevation.

Most of our desert trees come from Monrovia.com Wholesale Nurseries and Civano Nursery. 

Weeping Willow Landscape