Saltcedar - Tamarisk

Tamarisk flower.
Tamarisk flowers.
Tamarisk foliage.
Tamarisk stems.

Saltcedar - Tamarisk

Tamarix chinensis, and T. ramosissima

Colorado list B - Eradication required in Jefferson County

Information Sheet (pdf)


General

  • Family: Tamaricaceae (Tamarisk)
  • Has been sold as an ornamental but is no longer available in Colorado
  • Introduced from Asia


Habitat

  • Deciduous shrub and small tree
  • High drought and seasonal flood tolerance
  • Riparian areas and wetlands


Plant


Vegetation

  • Accumulate salts in foliage
  • Feathery leaves, gray-green in color
  • Small tree or shrub up to 20 feet tall


Roots

  • Deep tap roots


Flower

  • Color: small pink to white flowers on racemes (long, narrow clusters)
  • Season: June to September


Seed

  • Can germinate in 24 hours
  • Small, wind-borne seeds


Seedling

  • Reddish-brown bark on saplings and stems


Reproduction

  • Cut stems
  • Root fragments
  • Seed


Control


Biological

  • Not allowed – eradication is required


Chemical


Cultural

  • Hand pulling young plants
  • Prevention – maintain health of site


Mechanical

  • Burning - Not effective; readily re-sprouts from crown
  • Cutting / Mowing - Cutting combined with an herbicide treatment is most effective
  • Grazing - Goats can be effective on the regrowth after a stand is cut


Use all chemicals according to the manufacturer's label. No specific recommendation or endorsement is made or implied by listing methods or products.

 Treatment Timelines


JanFebMarAprMayJuneJulyAugSeptOctNovDec
Control











RemovalPlants regrow from stem and root fragments
Herbicide

Treat stump after cutting

Growth











Vegetative











Flowering











Seed