Desert Willow   Chilopsis linearis    
Catalpa family — Bignoniaceae

Also known as:
Flowering Willow, Willow-leaf Catalpa, Desert Catalpa, Flor de Mimbre, Bow Willow

Slides: (click for larger view)

The desert willow, which is not a true willow at all, is native along streams and in dry creek beds of the Trans-Pecos and west-central Texas, but it is widely cultivated and escapes in other areas. It is commonly planted as a windbreak in the northwestern part of the state. The fetching flowers are multicolored and quite variable, ranging from very pale pink with a bright rose lower lip and yellow within, to the darker version pictured here. The form of the flower is similar to that of the catalpa tree, to which it is related.

Dried Specimens: (click for larger view)

Flowering Months: April, May, June, July, August, September

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