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Salt Cedar

Tamarix ramosissima

Non-Native

Salt Cedar Locations in North America
Salt Cedar Locations in Southeast US
Salt Cedar leaves
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

salt cedar full view
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

USDA, NRCS. 2018. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 28 March 2018). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.

What is Salt Cedar?

Physical Characteristics

  • Shrub or tree
  • 5-25 feet tall

Leaves:

  • Small
  • Alternate
  • Scale-like

Flowers:

  • Pale pink-white flowers
  • 4-5 petals
  • 4-5 sepals
  • Up to 2.5 inches long
  • Clustered

Stem:

  • Slender branches
  • 15+ feet tall

Roots:

  • Taproot up to 95 feet underground
  • Spreading up to 165 feet

Where Does it Grow?

Non-Native

Salt cedar can be found in soils that are wet with salt water year round.

Is it Invasive?

Salt cedar is non-native to North America and is an aggressive invader that out-competes the native species of the area.

This plant is not native to North America, but has naturalized in much of the United States. While it is not illegal to possess this plant in Texas, it should not be introduced into new water bodies and should be treated with herbicide when present.

How to Manage This Plant
Plant Glossary

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Photo Credits: The majority of the aquatic plant line drawings are the copyright of the University of Florida Center for Aquatic Plants (Gainsville). They are used with permission.

Aquatic plant photographs were provided by David Bayne, Jim Davis, Kelly Duffie, Billy Higginbotham, Michael Masser, John Clayton, Chetta Owens, Diane Smith, Joe Snow, Don Steinbach, Bridget Robinson Lassiter and Peter Woods.

You may use these photos, so long as you give credit to AquaPlant.

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