Tamarix chinensis

RHS Plant Profile
Chinese tamarisk

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Tamarix chinensis?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants

Other common names

Chinese tree

Synonyms

Tamarix plumosa
Tamarix juniperina
Tamarix japonica

Shrubs Trees

A small tree or shrub to around 5m tall with scale-like, grey-green leaves on slender branchlets and spikes of small, pale pink flowers borne on the previous year's shoots in spring

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

4-8 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
10–20 years
Max Spread
2.5-4 metres
Max Height
4-8 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Tamaricaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Tamarix are deciduous shrubs or small trees of feathery effect, with minute leaves and racemes of very small pink or white flowers in spring, summer or early autumn
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
China

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grows well in most soils but dislikes shallow chalky soil. Requires full sun and a well-drained sandy soil in coastal plantings but it requires shelter from cold drying winds when planted inland

Propagation

Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings in summer or hardwood cuttings in winter. Propagate by seed sown, when ripe, in containers in a cold-frame

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Coastal
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Low Maintenance

Pruning

Pruning group 2

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely)