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Class B Noxious Weed

Saltcedar
Tamarix ramosissima
 

Saltcedar closeup


Plant family: Tamaricaceae
Year listed: 1994
Native to: southern Europe and north Africa through the Middle East and south Asia to China and Japan

Why is it a noxious weed?
Saltcedar is an aggressive colonizer, that is able to adapt to a variety of habitats. It forms monotypic stands replacing willows, cottonwoods and other native riparian species. The stems an leaves of mature plants secrete salt, which forms a crust above and below ground and inhibits survival of other plants. Saltcedar absorbs an enourmous amount of water, further stressing native vegetation surrounding it. Infestations has negative impacts on wildlife, reducing desirable forage and cover.

How would I identify it?
General Description: Spreading shrubs or small trees, 5-20 feet tall.

Leaves:

  • small
  • alternate
  • scale-like

Flowers:

  • pale pink to white
  • small
  • arranged in spike like racemes
  • distinct petals and sepals occur in fours or fives

Stems:

  • numerous branches

Line drawings are taken from 1,000 Weeds of North America, copyright of XID Service, Inc and used with permission. Permission granted by the author.

How does it reproduce?
Information goes hereSaltcedar spreads by seed and also resprouts vigorously from roots if the top
portion of the plant is damaged or removed. It can also readily establish from cuttings, if buried
in moist soil

Where does it grow?
Saltcedar can adapt to a variety of habitats. It is commonly found in moist soils and areas that are seasonally saturated at the surface.

What is the distribution in Washington State?

 

 

 

Click on map to enlarge.
  • Saltcedar has been documented throughout Washington, with the majority of infestations on the eastern region of the state. Refer to map for distribution levels in specific counties.
  • Distribution map based on 2003 data.

How do I control it?

General control methods: Saltcedar can be difficult to control because of the ability to resprout from roots. Effective control efforts utilize both mechanical and chemical control methods.

Cultural:

Herbicide: Please refer to the PNW Weed Management Handbook, or contact your county noxious weed coordinator.

Mechanical: Because of saltcedar’s ability to resprout from roots, many mechanical methods are largely unsuccessful. Root plowing is possible if plowed 35 to 60 cm deep with a cutting blade equipped with fins to pull up roots and buried stems but this methods also destroys other vegetation as well.

Biological: There has been some research on insects that may be used as biocontrol agents, although there are none are currently available.

For more information
For more information, download our Written Findings.

View the Garden Wise Eastern Washington and Western Washington Guides for better noninvasive plant recommendations for your yard or garden.

More Photos-Click photo to enlarge
Feel free to download, or contact us to receive high-resolution JPEG or TIFF formats
Saltcedar in bloom. Saltcedar flower close up.

 Last updated October 01, 2008