Tamarix aphylla - Athel tamarisk

Athel tamarisk (Tamarix aphylla) is an evergreen tree tolerant of heat, drought, and saline soils, traditionally planted as a windbreak and shelter hedge in arid regions. Its twigs exude a sweet, manna-like substance that is edible. Unlike the deciduous tamarisk species (e.g. saltcedar), which are highly flammable and considered invasive fire-promoting weeds across the western United States, Athel tamarisk rarely escapes cultivation and its salt- and ash-laden foliage resists burning.¹

Inputs

• Hardiness zone 7²
• Hardiness zone 8²
• Hardiness zone 9²
• Hardiness zone 10²
• Full sun²
• Well drained soil²
• Moist soil²

Outputs

• Human food²
• Medicinal use²
• Fuel²

Type

• Tree
• Evergreen

Functions

• Windbreak²
• Hedge²
• Drought-tolerance²
• Fire resistance¹

Footnotes

1. Tamarix aphylla, Athel tamarisk, USDA Forest Service Fire Effects Information System (FEIS) — “Athel tamarisk generally survives fire” and, because of the fire-resistant qualities of its foliage (high ash and salt content), “it is a good species for use in fire shelterbelts,” unlike the deciduous tamarisk species, which are serious weeds in the Southwest ↩ ↩²

2. Tamarix aphylla | Plants for a Future ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³