| saltcedar | USDA PLANTS Symbol: TARA U.S. Nativity: Exotic Habit: Hardwood Trees Shrub or Subshrub |
| Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb. |
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Taxonomic Rank: Magnoliopsida: Violales: Tamaricaceae |
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| Synonym(s): salt cedar, salt-cedar, tamarisk, tamarix | |
| Native Range: Temp. & trop. Asia, Europe (GRIN); | |
Salt cedar is deciduous shrub that can grow up to 15 feet in height. Leaves are small, scale-like, gray-green in color, and overlap along the stem. The bark is smooth and reddish on younger plants, turning brown and furrowed with age. Several species are considered invasive in the United States and distinguishing the species can often be difficult. Salt cedar invades streambanks, sandbars, lake margins, wetlands, moist rangelands, and saline environments. It can crowd out native riparian species, diminish early successional habitat, and reduce water tables and interferes with hydrologic process. Salt cedar is native to Eurasia and Africa and was introduced into the western United States as an ornamental in the early 1800s. It occurs throughout the western and central United States, but is most problematic in the Southwest. |
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Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources
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| Selected Images from Invasive.org | View All Images at Invasive.org |
 Plant(s); Introduced as an ornamental from Asia, invades riparian (streamside) areas throughout the American West. It accumulates salt in its tissues, which is later released into the soil, making it unsuitable for many native species. Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); establishing on beach Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Introduced as an ornamental from Asia, invades riparian (streamside) areas throughout the American West. It accumulates salt in its tissues, which is later released into the soil, making it unsuitable for many native species. Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
| EDDMapS Distribution: This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts and records obtained from USDA Plants Database. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org |
 State(s) Where Reported invasive. Based on state level agency and organization lists of invasive plants from WeedUS database. |
| Native Alternatives: | |
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Cercis canadensis var. texensis (Texas redbud) Chilopsis linearis (desert willow) Fallugia paradoxa (Apache plume) Holodiscus discolor (oceanspray) Neviusia alabamensis (Alabama snow-wreath) Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa (honey mesquite) Sophora secundiflora (Texas mountain-laurel) Spiraea douglasii (rose spirea) Spiraea tomentosa (steeplebush) |  More Information on Native Plants at: www.beplantwise.org PlantWise is a partnership between the National Park Service, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, The Garden Club of America and The National Invasive Species Council to prevent harmful invasive plants from invading natural areas. |
