Tamarix ramosissima
Tamarisk
Common names: Summer tamarisk, Feather bush shrub
At a glance
- Light
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Hardy
- Pruning
- Feb–Mar
- Flowering
- Jun–Sep
Photo: Jerzy Opioła · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
This description was machine-translated.
Description
The Tamarisk, botanically Tamarix ramosissima, enchants from June to September with countless fine, rose‑colored flower spikes that drift like a delicate feathered veil over the shrub. Its scaly, blue‑green needles resemble a fine needlewood and give the plant a subtle structure even when not in bloom. Native to salty, dry steppes and coastal regions, it is salt‑tolerant and heat‑resistant. In the garden it serves as a robust wind and screen, thriving on poor, sandy soils. Bees and other insects are attracted to the flowers, making the Tamarisk a valuable ornamental tree for naturalistic gardens.
Care instructions
Plant the Tamarisk in full sun, warm locations with well‑draining soil, ideally in spring from mid‑April (week 16) or in autumn from late September (week 39). It tolerates drought and salt very well, so it is better to under‑water than over‑water; avoid water‑logged soils. Prune the summer tamarisk in early spring, just before new growth begins, cutting back heavily as it flowers on this year’s wood and responds well to pruning. In the first one to two years, a mulch layer of bark mulch or gravel helps protect the root zone from frost and retains moisture. In very windy coastal sites, young plants can be supported with a stake until they are well rooted.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
FloweringJun–Sep
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
well-drained, sandy, lean, dry
Tamarisk loves free-draining, sandy to gravelly soils and also tolerates poor, dry sites without complaint. It dislikes waterlogging, so never plant it in heavy, compacted clay without drainage. Slightly alkaline to chalky soils suit it especially well, but it also copes with salty sites near the coast.
Feeding
Light feeder
As an undemanding, deep-rooted plant, tamarisk needs practically no feeding. A trowelful of mature compost around the root zone in spring is quite enough. Soil that is too rich only encourages soft growth that is prone to frost damage, so it is better to stay sparing.
Pruning
Because tamarisk flowers on new wood, cut it back hard in late winter, to about a third of the previous year's height. This keeps growth compact and encourages plenty of flowers in summer. You can happily thin out branched, older shoots close to the ground; the plant reliably re-sprouts.
Overwintering
Tamarisk is hardy in Central Europe and needs no special protection. Young plants in their first winter appreciate a mulch layer of leaves or bark mulch over the root zone. Frost can cut back the shoot tips, but the plant shrugs that off in spring.
Propagation
Methods
- Cuttings
- From seed
The most reliable way to propagate tamarisk is from hardwood cuttings, which you take in late winter and push straight into the open ground or into free-draining seed compost. They root surprisingly easily and need hardly any care. Sowing works too, but it takes longer and the seedlings grow more slowly than rooted cuttings. With both methods, keep the soil moderately moist until new shoots appear.
For your garden
Grow Tamarisk yourself
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