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Native Plant Society of Texas

Desert Willow

Chilopsis linearis

Other common name(s):

Flowering Willow, Willow-leaved Catalpa, Willowleaf Catalpa, Bow Willow, Flor De Mimbre, Mimbre

Family:

Bignoniaceae (Trumpet Creeper Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Central Great Plains, Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, Edwards Plateau, Southern Texas Plains, Southwestern Tablelands
Limestone Plains
Chihuahuan Basins and Playas, Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands, Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands, Low Mountains and Bajadas, Stockton Plateau
Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland, Llano Uplift, Semiarid Edwards Plateau
Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain, Lower Rio Grande Valley
Semiarid Edwards Bajada, Texas-Tamaulipan Thornscrub
Canadian/Cimarron Breaks, Caprock Canyons Badlands Breaks

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Tree

Height

20
to
30
ft.

Spread

15
to
25
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Limestone, Well Drained, Moist, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Grassland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White, Pink, Purple

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Seeds, Nectar, Pollen, Larval Host, Flowers

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds, Nectar Insects, Hummingbirds, Moths, Bees

Maintenance

Fast growth rate. Open, airy form provides light shade for underplantings. It is adapted to desert washes and does best with just enough water to keep it blooming and green through the hottest months. Won’t grow as fast or get as large in clay soil, but won’t suffer there either. To encourage blooming and avoid leggy branches, trim back during winter dormancy. Avoid excessive water and fertilizer, as that can lead to overly rapid growth, fewer blooms, and a weaker plant. Can be pruned to a single trunk if desired. Propagation: seed, semi-hardwood cutting.

Comments

Blooms April-October: heaviest bloom May-June. Forms a small multitrunked tree or shrub with long, narrow, willow-like leaves. Large, trumpet-shaped flowers spread at the opening into 5 ruffled lobes. The fruit is a long, slender seed pod. Larval host: White-winged Moth.

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CHLI2. 3) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Chilopsis+linearis&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 4) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=4973&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 5) Miller, George O., Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas 2nd Ed., 2013, pg 48. 6) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg. 283. 7) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=34318#null, 8) Native and Adapted Landscape Plants, City of Austin and Texas A&M, 2014.

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment Best if direct sown fresh into well-drained soil. Planting the seeds too deep is detrimental because desert willow seeds need light to germinate. Seeds will germinate in one to three weeks but only expect about 40% of the seeds to be viable. Seeds germinate at temperatures between 70°F and 80°F within a 1- to 2-week period. Transplant your seedlings to a larger pot once seedlings produce two sets of leaves and are four inches tall. This pot should be big enough to allow space to grow. Place outside for a month to harden up and allow to acclimate to the outdoors. You can then plant or keep in the container to allow to grow for the first year to plant the following year. Gather seeds from late summer through autumn, when the pods have dried and turned brown, but before they split open to release feathery seeds. Spread out the pods for drying, beat them lightly, and shake seeds free of the pods. Store seed in a cool, dry place until planting. 1) https://legacylandscaper.com/desert-willow-chilopsis-linearis/#:~:text=How%20to%20Propagate%20Desert%20Willow,and%20establishes%20robust%20plant%20development. 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CHLI2 3) https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_chli2.pdf 4) https://johndenson.com/desert-willow-chilopsis-linearis/#:~:text=Growing%20Desert%20Willows%20from%20Seed,the%20Southwest%20by%20Jill%20Nokes. 5) https://www.thespruce.com/desert-willow-growing-guide-5210875#:~:text=Propagating%20desert%20willow%20by%20seed%20is%20the%20preferred%20and%20easiest,to%20plant%20the%20following%20year.
Softwood Cutting The use of rooting hormones enhances the probability of successful propagation. Maintain a slight dampness in the soil rather than letting it become waterlogged. Root development takes 4 to 6 weeks. The process of transplantation happens when roots develop properly. Propagation reaches optimal results during warm summer periods. Correct sun exposure combined with adequate ventilation results in better survival results. Young plants acquire maximum benefits from periodic deep water applications. The procedure protects biological variety and establishes robust plant development. Plants grown from spring cuttings will produce a well-rooted five-gallon plant in one year. Start with softwood cuttings that measure 6 to 8 inches in length. 1) https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_chli2.pdf 2) https://legacylandscaper.com/desert-willow-chilopsis-linearis/#:~:text=How%20to%20Propagate%20Desert%20Willow,and%20establishes%20robust%20plant%20development. 3) https://johndenson.com/desert-willow-chilopsis-linearis/#:~:text=Growing%20Desert%20Willows%20from%20Seed,the%20Southwest%20by%20Jill%20Nokes. 4) https://www.thespruce.com/desert-willow-growing-guide-5210875#:~:text=Propagating%20desert%20willow%20by%20seed%20is%20the%20preferred%20and%20easiest,to%20plant%20the%20following%20year.

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason