Tree of the Week: April 22, 2025
We are at the Western Chapter ISA Tradeshow and Conference in Tuscon, Arizona today, so ArborNote’s Tree of the Week is the Desert Willow (chilopsis linearis). Although it has Willow in its common name, it is actually not a true willow, being instead a member of the catalpa family! It is native to the southwestern United States and Mexico and is commonly seen in washes and along riverbanks at lower elevations (below 5,000 feet). They are a popular ornamental tree in Arizona because of its tolerance to hot, dry climates. It can also “hunker down” in the winter and survive temperatures close to 0 degrees Fahrenheit. So it can thrive in those warm summer days, and those cold desert nights! The flowers are trumpet-shaped and come in shades of pink, lavender, and purple, often with white or yellow streaks in the throat. They bloom from late spring to fall, attracting pollinators like hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. The flowers are fragrant and appear in clusters at the tips of the branches, making for a beautiful sight in those early Spring months!
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