Photos and information adapted from "Weeds of the West" by Tom Whitson

SALTCEDAR

Tamarix ramosissima

Shrub or small tree, 5 to 20 ft tall.  Bark is reddish brown.  Leaves are small, scale-like, on highly branched, slender stems.  Flowers are pink to white with 4 or 5 petals.  It is a prolific seed producer.

Saltcedar, introduced as an ornamental, escaped and is naturalizing along waterways in the western US.  Large plants can use 200 gals. of water/day; drying up small streams and ponds.    Saltcedar forms a dense monoculture and is poor wildlife habitat.  Control is expensive and difficult.