One plant can shed tens of thousands of seeds a year, and they germinate fast enough to transform a local environment within two or three decades. Tamarisk (Tamarix) makes an easy seaside shrub, but only inside its native range in Central Asia and Eastern Europe; anywhere else, choose a replacement such as smoke bush.
Here are a few maps that show the distribution of Tamarix across the planet. Also included is how to report sightings of this invasive plant.
Tamarisk native and invasive ranges at a glance
Name
Tamarix
Family
Tamaricaceae
Type
shrub or small tree
Exposure
full sun, Tamarix species shade intolerant
Foliage
deciduous or evergreen depending on species
Invasive Tamarisk & native range
Native to – Asia, Mediterranean and North Africa (depending on the species)
Invasive in – Australia, United States, South Africa, Canada, Mexico, Argentina
Tamarisk regrows from the root crown after cutting, so felling a trunk alone simply produces a denser thicket of shoots.
Bag prunings for burning or landfill rather than composting them or piling them beside a ditch or stream.
Nursery labels often hide the problem behind cultivar names such as Pink Cascade or Summer Glow, which are selections of the invasive Tamarix ramosissima.
What is the native range of tamarisk?
Tamarisk is native to Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Here is a map that shows where it grows naturally in the wild. The green area marks the native growing area of each tamarisk species.
On other continents, Tamarix is extremely invasive. It produces tens of thousands of seeds per plant every year, and they germinate fast. Within two or three decades, it can transform the local environment and wipe other plants out.
Desert tamarisk grows wild across North Africa and Asia
Where has tamarisk spread so far?
In the United States
This map shows reports of tamarisk throughout the United States. Every county where the plant has been reported is marked in green. It’s updated thanks to the Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System (University of Georgia).
If you notice any in your area, you can report it to them here.
In Canada
British Columbia already has reports of invasive tamarisk
In British Columbia, there are already reports of tamarisk.
If you notice one as you walk around, report it to Canadian wildlife agencies here.
Canada also set up a program together with horticulture stores and landscapers. It’s called “Plantwise“. Together, they wrote up a list of excellent shrubs that you can replace tamarisk with:
Currently, only a few states have laws that prohibit or restrict planting and sale of this tree. Others are currently studying the risk that this plant poses. This translates into having the plant on a “watch list” of possible invasive species.
Even if Tamarix isn’t yet illegal in your state, you might want to join in on local efforts to control it.
Some states are still considering making laws. You can try and change things yourself by getting involved! Contact your local governor’s office or representative.
Here is a map, also updated daily, that shows the current legal status of Tamarisk or saltcedar in the United States.
Cultivar names such as Pink Cascade or Rubra do not exempt a regulated species.
Where saltcedar is listed as a noxious weed, the landowner is usually required to control plants already growing, so ask your county weed district what that means for you.
Smart tip about reporting tamarisk presence
With smartphones, it becomes increasingly easy to report this invasive plant when you sight it. The EDDMapS phone app gathers GPS location data and forwards it to the agency that can best help control the weed.
Images: CC BY-SA 3.0: Smurfy; Pixabay: Christiane Klahr; Public Domain: Canadensys Université de Montréal Biodiversity Centre
Written by Gaspard Lorthiois | Loves helping out, especially when it comes to growing things. Worked in herbal medicine, runs a farm, and dabbles in tech. Master's degree and engineer.
