• The desert willow (Chilopsis linearis) is a native North American plant that grows in the southeastern and southwestern U.S. Its range also extends into the Pacific Northwest. Native Americans used the wood of the tree to make bows for hunting. Many people use the wood to make fence posts, and twigs from the tree are good material for baskets.
  
  

Physical Description

• The desert willow generally grows to 15 to 30 feet high and has a spread of 15 to 25 feet. Most specimens are multi-trunked with droopy branches. Desert willows have thick foliage, making them a good choice for privacy screening. The tree has long, narrow leaves that resemble those of the willows of the Salix botanical family; however, it is not related to this group.
  
  

Flowers

• The desert willow produces lavender or white orchid-like flowers that appear on the tips of branches in 2- to 4-inch clusters. They can bloom anytime from late spring to fall, depending on the amount of rainfall the tree receives. The flowers are fragrant and attractive to bees, who make an excellent honey from the nectar, according to the University of Florida Extension website. The flowers produce 4- to 12-inch-long seed capsules.
  
  

Heat and Drought

• The desert willow is a heat- and drought-resistant tree that grows best with an adequate water supply, but is sensitive to overwatering. Cultivators should plant the tree in raised beds if an area gets more than 30 inches of rainfall per year. The tree needs lots of sunlight and tolerates various types of soils, such as clay, sand or loam. it does need good drainage to thrive.