Practical
Plants

Chilopsis linearis

Desert Willow

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Chilopsis genus in the family Bignoniaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
9 m
Fertility
Bees
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The blossoms and seedpods have been used for food[3].

Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Seedpod

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A decoction of the flowers is used for coughs and bronchial disturbances[1].

Product or use
Pectoral

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The young pliable twigs are woven into baskets[1][5]. The bark is removed and the shoots are used unsplit as rod foundations in coil basketry[3]. The bark has been used to make shirts and nets[3]. Wood - coarse-grained, soft, weak, rather durable in the soil. Used for fence posts and fuel[1].

Product or use
Basketry
Product or use
Fibre
Product or use
Wood

Environment

Range
South-western N. America - California to Texas south to Mexico.
Habitat
Gravelly or rocky soils in arid desert washes and desert grasslands, 400 - 1600 metres[1][2]. Plants attain their greatest size when growing along streams and in low places[2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - we have very little information on this species but would suggest sowing the seed in a greenhouse in the spring. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. It will probably pay to protect the plants for their first winter or two in the open ground. There are about 75,000 seeds per pound, only half of which are viable. About 4,000 plants are usually raised from a pound of seed[1]. Grows readily from cuttings[1].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a very warm sunny position in a very well-drained soil[4]. Plants are likely to be intolerant of wet conditions especially in the winter[K]. This species is not very hardy outdoors in Britain, tolerating temperatures down to about -3°c[4]. The showy flowers are fragrant[2].

References

  1. Vines. R.A. Trees of North Texas University of Texas Press. 1982-00-00 ISBN 0292780206

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  2. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-330-37376-5

    ↩1↩2

  5. Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm

    ↩

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