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Common Name: Chinese Tamarisk

General Information

Tamarix chinensis is a deciduous shrub that can grow up to 4.50 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials..

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

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Range

E. Asia - China.

Habitat

Roadsides and stream edges, mostly as the result of cultivation[]. Plains along rivers, sea shores, moist salty places, sandy places[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	4.50 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

An easily grown plant, succeeding in most soils and tolerant of saline conditions[]. Grows well in heavy clay soils as well as in sands and even shingle[]. Usually found near the coast, it succeeds inland if given a fairly good deep loam and a sunny position[, ]. Tolerant of maritime winds and dry soils when grown near the coast[], plants require a moister soil and shelter from cold drying winds when they are grown inland in non-saline soils because they use the soil salts that are found in saline soils to help them reduce transpiration[].
This species flowers on the current year's growth[]. Any pruning is best carried out in spring, hedges are also best trimmed at this time[]. Plants are tolerant of severe pruning, sprouting freely from old wood[].
Very closely related to T. ramosissima[]. This plant is often mis-identified as T. gallica[] or T. indica[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The leaves are analgesic, antipyretic, antivinous, carminative, depurative, diuretic, febrifuge[, ]. Aids measles rash surfacing[].
The wood is used in the treatment of anthrax-like sores[]
A manna from the plant is vulnerary[].

Other Uses

Very tolerant of maritime exposure, it makes a good shelter hedge in coastal gardens.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame and only just cover the seed. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, mid summer in a frame. Very easy[].
Cuttings of mature wood of the current seasons growth, 15 - 25cm long, planted outdoors in late autumn in a nursery bed or straight into their permanent position. High percentage[, ].