Desert Willow Tree Seeds Freshly Harvested, 
40+ Seeds, Purple Orchid Flower (25B)

Desert willow, Chilopsis linearis is a large deciduous shrub or small tree. There is one in McFarland 30 feet+tall, but usually they are a 15 foot or so small tree. Its willow- like, long, narrow leaves and growth along desert washes give the desert willow its name. The Penstemon- like flowers are fragrant, pink to lavender. They appear in May and keep coming until September or frost. Native near waterways in Mojave and Colorado deserts. Likes moderate water and sun. Does best inland and in desert. In most of California the test would be if you get frost, but do not get below 0 degrees F, it will probably grow. Easy to grow. It's nice looking and fast. The leaf tips will freeze each cold winter; ours have lived through -4 degrees F., in containers with little damage. It has a nice deciduous form. Can be pruned to make a weeping willow effect. (A weeping willow with 1-2"pink-purple catalpa-like flowers!) Plant and stems look dead when dormant, (Do not pull out the first winter). Hummingbirds live in this most of the summer. A favorite in the garden all summer. Syn: Chilopsis linearis ssp. arcuata

Chilopsis linearis tolerates alkaline soil, sand, clay and seasonal flooding.
Chilopsis linearis is great for a bird garden.
Chilopsis linearis's foliage color is green and type is deciduous.
Chilopsis linearis's flower color is pink and has a fragrance.

Communities for Chilopsis linearis:Creosote Bush Scrub, Joshua Tree Woodland and Riparian (rivers & creeks).

ph:6.00 to 9.00
usda:5 to 10
height[m]:3.00 to 10.00
width[m]:2.00 to 9.00
rainfall[cm]:50.00 to 300.00


Desert Willow Seed Germinating

Soak the seeds a few hours prior to sowing either in water or a mild solution of vinegar. Sow the seeds no deeper than ¼ inch deep in flats or nursery pots. Keep the soil relatively moist and, within 1-3 weeks, desert willow seed germination will take place.

 

When seedlings produce two sets of leaves, or are at least 4 inches (10 cm.) in height, they can be transplanted to individual one-gallon pots filled with a well-draining soil mix and time release fertilizer. Be sure to grow the container plants in strong sunlight.

 

You can plant your desert willow in the ground as soon as spring or, more ideally according to some, grow the plants in containers for at least a full year before planting in the ground. When planting your young desert willow, be sure to let it transition to outdoor life by hardening it off, then situate it in a location that receives full sun with well-draining soil.