Also known as 4-stamen tamarix and salt cedar, this evergreen tree is native to coastal areas of the eastern Mediterrea,n to Iran and the Arabian Peninsula, where it grows in sandy soils, swamps, and the edges of salt marshes. It is a member of the Tamaricaceae, a small plant family of less than 60 species. Plants grow 3-10′ tall and have smooth reddish brown bark and very small scale-like gray-green leaves. The white, 4-5 petaled flowers appear in racemes 1-3.5″ long from spring into summer and give way to tiny pyramidal seed capsules. The genus name, Tamarix, is derived from the Tamaris River in Spain. The specific epithet, tetragyna, comes from the Greek words tetra meaning four, and gyne,meaning female, and refers to the 4 stigmas or carpels, female parts of the flowers.
Type: Evergreen tree
Outstanding Feature: Salt tolerance
Form: Rounded
Growth Rate: Rapid
Bloom: Racemes of white 4-5 petaled flowers from spring into summer
Size: 3-10′ H
Light: Full sun
Soil: Sandy, salty, wet to medium moist
Hardiness: Zones Not Available
Care: Not Available
Pests and Diseases: None of significance
Propagation: Seed, cuttings
Outstanding Selections: None
Photo Credit: Ruben Mor Wikimedia Commons
Karen Meyers