Tamarisk is a graceful deciduous shrub that brings an unexpected elegance to difficult growing spots. Hardy from zones 3 to 8, this 10-15 foot tall plant produces delicate, feathery pink flowers from May through August that seem almost incongruous with its tough constitution. Its fine-textured, juniper-like foliage and reddish arching branches give it a refined appearance, yet it thrives in poor, sandy soils and handles salt spray, drought, and deer pressure where other ornamentals fail.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-8
180in H x 156in W
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Low
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Reddish, slender branchlets arch gracefully above pale gray-green scale-like leaves that create a soft, almost coniferous texture despite being deciduous. Dense feathery plumes of five-petaled pink flowers blanket the plant over an impressively long bloom season, starting in May and continuing through August. Its rapid growth habit and ability to bounce back from hard pruning make it a forgiving choice for gardeners who want dramatic visual impact without fussy maintenance.
Tamarisk is valued for naturalizing in difficult sites and for inclusion in rain gardens where its tolerance for both drought and periodic moisture makes it reliable. Its salt tolerance has made it a traditional choice for seaside plantings where few ornamentals survive. The plant's rapid, thicket-forming growth also makes it useful for quickly establishing screening in challenging soils.
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Prune tamarisk in late winter to early spring to maintain desired shape and size. Since the plant blooms on new wood, pruning promotes better flowering and branching. For a compact, well-formed shrub, you can prune hard annually, cutting back within several inches of the ground; the plant will respond with vigorous new growth. Remove any dead or crossing branches during the growing season as needed.
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