Tamarix spp, or salt cedar, is deciduous shrub that can grow up to 15 ft. (4.6 m) in height. The bark is smooth and reddish on younger plants, turning brown and furrowed with age.
Foliage
Leaves are small (0.06 in. [0.15 cm] long), scale-like, gray-green, and overlap along the stem. Leaves are often coated with salt crystals.
Flowers
Flowering occurs from March to September. Flowers are pink to white and develop in 2 in. (5.1 cm) long clusters (spikes) at the tips of the branches.
Fruit
The seeds are about 0.02 in. long x 0.007 in. wide(0.45 mm x 0.17 mm) and are held in a lance-ovoid capsule from 0.12-0.16 in. (3-4 mm) long.
Ecological Threat
Several species are considered invasive in the United States and distinguishing the species can often be difficult. Tamarix spp invades streambanks, sandbars, lake margins, wetlands, moist rangelands and saline environments. It can crowd out native riparian species, diminish early successional habitat and reduce water tables, thus interfering with hydrologic processes. The stems and leaves of mature plants secrete salt. These salt secretions inhibit the growth and development of other plants. A large, mature plant can absorb up to 200 gallons (757 L) of water a day! Tamarix spp is native to Eurasia and Africa and was introduced into the western United States as an ornamental in the early 1800s. It occurs throughout the western and central United States, but it is most problematic in the Southwest.