Tamarisk (Saltcedar) (Tamarix spp.)

Status:

Listed Noxious Weed In Montana & North Dakota

History:

First Montana Specimen Collected 1

County:

Big Horn

Year:

1971

“Tamarisk was brought to the U.S. as early as 1805, and it was widely available as an ornamental on the West coast by the 1870's. Used for ornamental and bank stabilization purposes by 1900 in the lower Colorado River and Rio Grande rivers, tamarisk appeared in the Grand Canyon between 1922 and 1938.” (Stevens)

Habitat:

Growth Habit:

Deciduous or evergreen shrubs or small trees reaching 5 to 20 feet in height.

Leaves:

Small leaves on green stems are alternate, overlap each other and appear scale-like (similar to a cedar tree)

Stem:

Highly branched with a smooth, dark brown to reddish-brown bark.

Flower:

Pink flowers are borne in finger-like clusters.

Roots:

Seeds:

Other Notes:

“Its broad tolerance of drought and inundation, its enormous fecundity and
wind-dispersal of seeds quickly allowed tamarisk to spread.” (Stevens, 26) In Montana it has invaded the Yellowstone, Big Horn, Tongue, and Powder Rivers and their tributaries.