horticulture in arid weather condition often calls for plants that can tolerate drought , poor soil , and scald temperatures .
And if you ’re look for a tree that turn back all these box , you ’ve likely come across the Desert Willow .
But , as glamour as its blossom may be , you might be wondering about its underground behavior .
Does the Desert Willow have invasive roots that could spell trouble for your garden ? We ’ve got the answer for you to put your mind at rest .
What is a Desert Willow?
The desert willow ( genus Chilopsis linearis ) is a small to intermediate - sized deciduous tree aboriginal to the American Southwest and northerly Mexico .
Although it carries the name " willow , " it ’s not really a true willow tree but a extremity of theBignoniaceaefamily .
noted for its delicate , trump - shaped flush that range in color from lavender to rap , this sweetheart can be quite a showstopper when in bloom of youth .
Growth Requirements
boom in USDA hardiness geographical zone 6 through 9 , the desert willow is an adaptable Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree well - suit for xeriscaping or low - water garden .
It loves full sun and can put up drought once base , though periodic mystifying tearing will keep it looking its best .
The desert willow tree is n’t specially picky about soil type but perform well in well - drained , sandy , or gravelly soils .
loosely , it reaches superlative of30 feetat due date and about 25 feet spread , lay down it a good choice for small yards or as an decorative street tree diagram .
Does Desert Willow Have Invasive Roots?
The interrogative sentence of the minute — does the desert willow tree have invasive roots ?
The short answer isno ; it does not have a particularly trespassing etymon system liken to other tree species .
Desert willow tree is a broken - maintenance Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that is n’t know for having invasive roots , which make it a great option for residential gardens and native landscapes .
Root Systems of Desert Willows
empathize the root system of the desert willow tree can help you plan its positioning in your landscape .
The tree sport a deep taproot with some lateral root increase , make it ideal for stabilizing eroding soil .
The taproot allow it to attain pee far beneath the surface , a trait that contributes to its drouth tolerance .
Unlike the sprawling root system of some other drought - broad species like the mesquite or salinity cedar , the desert willow ’s stem are generally non - fast-growing and non - invasive .
They are improbable to damage undercover utilities or interfere well with other flora in the garden .
Growth and Spread
In its natural home ground , the desert willow tends to spring up along arroyo , washes , and streams where its radical can access sub - surface water .
However , this does not mean that the tree will aggressively seek out urine root in your one thousand . It is adaptive , not invasive .
When plant a desert willow , it ’s mostly dependable to place it at least 10 to 15 feet by from any structures or underground public utility company for optimum growth and minimal ascendent interference .
Compatibility with Other Plants
The restrained root arrangement of the desert willow tree wee it a dear neighbor to other industrial plant .
It does not compete aggressively for water and nutrient , unlike some other drought - immune metal money .
This means you may safely integrate it into a diverse , water - efficient garden without occupy about it choking out other plants .
Effects on Nearby Plants
While Desert Willow base do n’t actively damage or compete with nearby plants , their drought tolerance mean that they require less water supply than many other coinage .
As a issue , when planting them adjacent to other plants , give attention to your watering regimen .
verify you do n’t over - body of water the Desert Willow or under - water your other plants , as both will suffer if not attended to properly .
Effects on Infrastructure
Unlike some other tree species , Desert Willow roots are not know to do significant damage to pavements , sidewalks , or building .
These solution typically develop deep and narrow-minded rather than wide , make them less likely to push up against surfaces and cause damage .
Therefore , you could plant your Desert Willow in your landscape without much concern for potential root - related infrastructural wrong .
Desert Willows are Great Companion Plants
If you ’ve been hold off on add up a desert willow tree to your garden due to worry about invasive roots , you could lay those worries to breathe .
The Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ’s roots are relatively well - behaved and offer the tally benefit of being extremely drought - tolerant .
So go ahead , make room for this Southwestern beauty ; it ’s certain to bedazzle without wreaking mayhem below the ground .
For more selective information about Desert Willows , here are more resource :
5 Most Common Desert Willow Tree Problems And solvent
How tight Do Desert Willows Grow [ And How Tall And Wide Do They Get ] ?
