Tamarix chinensis is one of four very closely related species that can be very hard to distinguish from each other, the distinctions being based on differences in morphology of the nectary disk and staminal filaments that are often difficult to separate, as the traits are not clearly or unequivocally expressed. The other three species are Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb.: Tamarix canariensis Willd.; and Tamarix gallica L.

Common Name: Chinese Tamarisk

General Information

Tamarix chinensis is a deciduous shrub or small tree that usually grows around 3 - 6 metres tall but can reach 8 metres tall with a trunk up to 30cm in diameter. Tamarix species are deep-rooted plants with taproots up to 30 metres long and lateral roots up to 50 metres long that can produce suckers[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials. It is often grown as an ornamental.
Tamarix chinensis has a very wide distribution in China, Mongolia, Taiwan and Japan. It is not currently experiencing any major threats and no significant future threats have been identified. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2023)[].
Tamarix chinensis is fast growing and adapted to extreme environments, with high seed dispersal and vegetative reproduction capacity. It can certainly become an aggressive colonizer on fertile soils and is considered as an alien invasive species in many USA States, being implicated in increasing soil salinity by deposition of saline leaf litter and interfering in natural aquatic systems[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

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Range

E. Asia - northern and eastern China, Japan.

Habitat

Roadsides and stream edges, mostly as the result of cultivation[]. Plains along rivers, sea shores, moist salty places, sandy places[]. Arid or semiarid desert areas and saline-alkali fields or in moist habitat with saline soils[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Conservation Status	Least Concern
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	4.50 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Tamarix chinensis is a moderately cold-hardy plant, tolerating winter temperatures falling to around -20°c[]. It grows best in areas with hot summers and can tolerate arid, semi-arid and moist climates, tolerating mean annual rainfall as low as 50mm and rising to 1,500mm or more[].
An easily grown plant, succeeding in most soils and tolerant of waterlogged and 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[].
Adventitious buds in the crown area sprout when the upper part of the plant is killed or injured; new sprouts may grow 2 - 3 metres in 1 year[].
Very closely related to Tamarix ramosissima[]. This plant is often mis-identified as Tamarix gallica[] or Tamarix 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 young leaves and shoots are used to treat diaphoresis and measles[].
A decoction the leafy tips of the young branches is used as a topical application in the treatment of measles and skin allergies[]

The wood is used in the treatment of anthrax-like sores[]
A manna from the plant is vulnerary[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Very tolerant of maritime exposure, it makes a good shelter hedge in coastal gardens.
The leaves have the ability to exude salt and when the plant is grown in extreme saline-alkaline soils (approximately 1% or up to 15,000 p.p.m.) it can effectively reduce soil salt content[].
The deep taproot and fine root system allows the plant to grow well even when partially covered by sand, and so it is used in soil stabilization schemes for sandy soils[ and dunes1093]. It can be used to stabilize sand dunes and improve saline soils over a period of 15 - 20 years to make the soil suitable for crop cultivation[].

Other Uses

The shoots are elastic and have traditionally been used to weave agricultural items, such as baskets and crates[].

Tamarix species are generally a good source of tannins, which are often used medicinally or in dyes etc. All parts of the plant can be used, the roots contain around 16 - 18% tannins, whilst the leaves contain 11 - 12%[].

The wood is hard and can be used to make agricultural tools[]. Products include building timbers, fences, boxes and pulp[].
The wood is waxy and can be used for fuel, burning well even when green[, ].

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.
The plant is traditionally propagated by suckers[].
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[, ].