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Activity Feed Forums General plant care Q&A Chilopsis Linearis (Desert Willow)

  • Chilopsis Linearis (Desert Willow)

    Posted by laurie on August 24, 2024 at 2:27 pm

    Hello all!

    We have been busy putting together our exotic / jungle part of our garden over the Summer with a lot of experimental plants (Ill do a seperate post on that!)

    However, has anyone tried to grow a Chilopsis Linearis, also known as the Desert Willow. It seems to be a relatively new introduction to the UK, apparently relatively hardy too. We have a Chitalpa Tashkentensis in our jungle already, which has similar flowers but different leaves and is a cross between Chilopsis and Catalpa.

    We have two saplings of Chilopsis which are doing well, albeit they are in pots and come in for the winter to strengthen them up. We have also bought a large plant, which has come from Tuscany, which we aim to plant outdoors in around March time next year.

    Just wondered if anyone else had given it a go? Its a fabulous looking small tree

    laurie replied 5 months, 2 weeks ago 2 Members · 2 Replies
  • 2 Replies
  • Craig A

    Administrator
    August 26, 2024 at 6:32 pm

    This isn’t a plant I was familiar with but after a bit of research it looks beautiful! Especially when in flower. I’d love for you to keep us updated with pictures 😀

  • laurie

    Member
    August 27, 2024 at 11:08 am

    Yes its very different! The flowers are very similar to the Chitalpa but it has fab foliage! Ill post some photos once its in the ground and doing its thing. It needs a LOT of drainage as it is prone to root rot in the winter – no surprise given where it originates from – and full sun.

    Luckily we on the outskirts of London and out garden is a very steep slope, very stony and faces south west, with woodland behind us that blocks out the cold winter winds, so we are lucky in what we can experiment with. For example, we have managed to plant outdoors last year, Erythina Crista Galli, Caesalpinia Gilliesii, a Yuzu Lemon Tree and Tigridia Pavonia which all have ade it successfully through the winter!

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