Appearance

Tamarix gallica 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 small and white to pink in color.

Fruit

Fruits are small capsules.

Ecological Threat

Several species are considered invasive in the United States and distinguishing the species can often be difficult. Tamarix gallica 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 gallica 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.

Resources

• Element Stewardship Abstract - The Nature Conservancy

Selected Images

Maps

Invasive Listing Sources

• California Invasive Plant Council
• California Noxious Weeds
• Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council - Category 2
• Jil M. Swearingen, Survey of invasive plants occurring on National Park Service lands, 2000-2007
• Nonnative Invasive Species in Southern Forest and Grassland Ecosystems
• Reichard, Sarah. 1994.  Assessing the potential of invasiveness in woody plants introduced in North America. University of Washington Ph.D. dissertation.
• South Carolina Exotic Pest Plant Council
• WeedUS - Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States

References