Tamarix chinensis is deciduous shrub that can grow up to 15 ft. (4.8 m) in height.
Foliage
Leaves are small, scale-like, gray-green in color, and overlap along the stem. The bark is smooth and reddish on younger plants, turning brown and furrowed with age.
Flowers
Flowers are white to pink in color and develop on slender racemes that are 0.8-2 in. (2-5 cm) long. Flowers have 5 stamens.
Fruit
Fruits are capsules that are 0.12-0.16 in. (3-4 mm).
Ecological Threat
Several species are considered invasive in the United States and distinguishing the species can often be difficult. Tamarix chinensis 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 and interferes with hydrologic process. Tamarix chinensis 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 is most problematic in the Southwest.