Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis)

Sonoran Desert NativeUpper Canopy TreeNitrogen Fixer
Written By Jérémy Chevallier

The desert willow is an unmistakably flashy pink symbol and staple of the Sonoran Desert. Like most desert trees, people confuse it with a shrub, but it easily fills the upper canopy layer—growing up to 30 feet tall by 25 feet wide.

Mature Canopy Size

15–25 ft wide, 15–30 ft tall

Growth Rate

Fast — can grow up to 2–3 ft per year, especially with extra water

Water Requirements (Minimum vs. Maximum Growth)

  • Minimum: Low once established (deep water every 2–3 weeks)

  • For Fast Growth: Moderate — weekly irrigation in summer improves canopy and bloom density

Ecological & Functional Benefits

  • Attracts native pollinators, especially hummingbirds and bees

  • Helps reduce radiating heat in desert landscapes

  • Tolerates poor soils and alkalinity

Edible / Harvest Season / Nutritional Benefits

Not edible for humans. Long seed pods form in fall but are mostly ornamental.

Minimum Chill Hours

Not applicable — fully adapted to low-elevation desert with no winter chilling needed

Maintenance Requirements

Low. Occasional pruning to shape and remove spent blooms. Can be messy with seed pods.

Thorny or Not?

No

Deciduous or Not?

Yes — winter deciduous — great for opening up sunlight to windows/understory during cool season

Miscellaneous Notes

  • Native to Southwest U.S. and northern Mexico

  • Available in several cultivars with different bloom colors (pink, lavender, burgundy)

  • Often mistaken for a small flowering tree or large shrub — pruning defines shape

Questions about the desert willow?

Comment below or on our social media pages @permascaping.

Jérémy Chevallier
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