This page was updated on Monday March 17 2008
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Saltcedar: A Non-Native Invasive Plant in the Western U.S
Saltcedar: What is it and why is it a problem?Saltcedar, also called tamarisk, is a shrubby tree that was brought into the U.S. from the Old World in the latter part of the 19th century. Eight species of Tamarix were introduced to the western U.S. as ornamentals, for windbreaks, or for erosion control. Some of these species, principally T. ramosissima, but also T. chinensis, T. gallica and T. parviflora, have escaped from domesticated sites and invaded rivers and other riparian habitats throughout the west. These weedy species are called saltcedars because they have small, scaly, cedar-like leaves that exude salt brought up from the soil through the roots. |
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Saltcedar leaves are gray-green in color, but turn yellow and drop in the winter. Another species, the athel tree (Tamarix aphylla) is common in the deserts of the southwest as a shade and windbreak tree. It tolerates the harsh desert environment without human assistance, but only occasionally escapes and is not regarded as a widespread problem |
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Saltcedars produce thousands of flowers in spring and summer. Seed are very small and have a tuft of hairs on one end so they can disperse long distances on the wind or on water. One mature plant is capable of producing 500,000 seed in one year. These seed are typically short-lived and must germinate within a few months after dispersal from the parent tree. |
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Saltcedar grows rapidly from a seedling to a mature, flowering plant in one summer season. The root system is extensive, producing a taproot 10 feet deep to reach the water table, as well as secondary roots at the soil surface that readily soak up rainfall. Saltcedar tolerates drought, heat, cold, salinity, fire and flooding. |
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