Desert Willow
Chilopsis linearis
A graceful native tree with orchid-like blooms in white, pink, or purple that attract hummingbirds throughout the warm season.
Fully frost hardy to about 0-10°F, a heat-loving native suited from low to high desert.
AMWUA Notes
Low water; blooms best with an occasional deep summer soak, but avoid overwatering.
Care Guide
Deep-soak every two weeks in summer for best bloom and monthly otherwise; flowering flushes after a deep soak or monsoon rain.
Prune in late winter to shape as a tree or leave multi-trunk; removing spent seed pods extends bloom and reduces the twiggy look.
No fertilizer needed; a tough native.
Essentially pest-free.
Long bloom from spring through fall, heaviest after monsoon rains; deciduous and bare in winter with seed-pod drop.
Soil, Feeding & Propagation
Well-draining sandy, gravelly, or decomposed-granite soil; tolerates caliche and alkaline pH 7.5–8.5, and native to desert washes
Needs well-drained soil.
None — thrives in lean desert soil without fertilizer.
Grown from seed or from hardwood/semi-hardwood cuttings; named forms rooted from cuttings
15–20 ft
Deep, non-aggressive roots; safe near pools and patios, though it drops flowers and long seed pods
Placement Tips
- •About 20 ft wide as a patio or pollinator tree; thornless and pool friendly at moderate distance.
- •Sheds flowers and long seed pods and goes bare in winter, so weigh sightlines from patios and windows.
- •Grow as a single-trunk shade tree or leave the multi-trunk form for an informal screen.
- •Full sun drives the heaviest bloom; a hummingbird magnet near seating.
Features
Best Uses
Ecological Value
Attracts
Companion Plants
Quick Stats
Design Styles
Include in Your Project
Love Desert Willow? Our landscape team sources from wholesale nurseries and can incorporate it into your design.
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Use this care guide to maintain your Desert Willow. Questions about your landscape? Reach out anytime.
Data from 2024 AMWUA “Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert” guide.
Desert Willow — common questions
Answers for low-desert Phoenix conditions, drawn from this plant’s growing data.
How much water does Desert Willow need in Phoenix?
Desert Willow is a low-water tree once established. Deep-soak every two weeks in summer for best bloom and monthly otherwise; flowering flushes after a deep soak or monsoon rain. Low water; blooms best with an occasional deep summer soak, but avoid overwatering.
How big does Desert Willow get?
Expect roughly 25 ft tall and 20 ft wide at maturity, with a moderate growth rate. Allow about 15–20 ft of spacing when planting. Deep, non-aggressive roots; safe near pools and patios, though it drops flowers and long seed pods.
Can you plant Desert Willow near a pool?
Yes. Desert Willow is considered pool-friendly, meaning it stays clean enough around water features and hardscape. Litter is rated seasonal.
Can Desert Willow handle Arizona heat and winter frost?
Desert Willow is hardy in USDA 9-11 and wants full sun. Fully frost hardy to about 0-10°F, a heat-loving native suited from low to high desert. Long bloom from spring through fall, heaviest after monsoon rains; deciduous and bare in winter with seed-pod drop.
Does Desert Willow have thorns?
No. Desert Willow is thornless, so it is safe alongside walkways, patios and play areas.
Is Desert Willow safe around pets?
Desert Willow is listed as pet-friendly in this guide. If your dog is a determined chewer, check any new plant with your vet before planting.
When does Desert Willow bloom in Arizona?
Desert Willow blooms in spring-fall, with white/pink/purple flowers. The bloom draws bees, hummingbirds.
How much maintenance does Desert Willow need?
Desert Willow is moderate-maintenance. Leaf, flower and pod litter is rated seasonal. Prune in late winter to shape as a tree or leave multi-trunk; removing spent seed pods extends bloom and reduces the twiggy look.
What kind of soil does Desert Willow need?
Well-draining sandy, gravelly, or decomposed-granite soil; tolerates caliche and alkaline pH 7.5–8.5, and native to desert washes. It needs no supplemental feeding. No fertilizer needed; a tough native.
Is Desert Willow native to Arizona?
Yes. Desert Willow is native to Arizona and to the Southwestern US, Mexico, so it is adapted to local rainfall, soil and heat.