Desert Willow

Airy Grace, Desert Place: The Allure of Desert Willows

With a delicate look, orchid-like blooms and a graceful, airy form, Desert Willow brings a touch of desert elegance to the landscape. Native to West Texas and the Southwest, these waterwise trees thrive in heat and poor soil. Drought tolerant once established too. Their lightly scented flowers—ranging from pale pinks to deep burgundy—attract hummingbirds and pollinators all summer long. Flowers are followed by long seed pods. Deciduous with yellow fall foliage. Perfect for xeriscapes, wildscapes, or as a flowering focal point. Truly a beautiful and low-maintenance standout for Central Texas gardens!

Popular Varieties

• Bubba: Cultivar. Deep purple flowers and glossy dark green foliage. Upright, denser growth than typical seed-grown trees. Moderate seed pod production. Mature Size: 20-30ft H, 15-20ft W
• Bubba Jones: Hybrid of ‘Bubba’ and ‘Warren Jones’; combines bold purple flowers with upright, structured form. Low to moderate seed pod production. Mature Size: 25-30ft H, 15-20ft W
• Lucretia Hamilton: Cultivar. Compact variety with rich burgundy-purple flowers and weeping form. Produces seed pods. Mature Size: 15-20ft H, 10-15ft W
• Sweet Bubba Seedless: Cultivar. A newer, seedless selection with dark pink to purple blooms and clean, narrow form—ideal for urban gardens. Mature Size: 15-25ft H, 10–15ft W
• Timeless Beauty: Nearly seedless hybrid with long bloom period and deep pink-purple flowers. Excellent for tidy, low-maintenance landscapes. Mature Size: 15-25ft H, 15-20ft W
• Warren Jones: Cultivar. Taller/more upright than other varieties; pale pink blooms. Great for screening/loose shade. Moderate to High number of seed pods. Mature Size: 25-30ft H, 15-20ft W
• Seed-grown (native type): Varies in flower color from light pink to lavender; irregular form. More wild and naturalistic. Highest production of seed pods. Mature Size: 15-30ft H, 10-20ft W. Extremely drought-hardy.

Care in Austin

Sunlight: 6–8+ hours daily

Water: Very low once established. Deep soak every 2–3 weeks in summer if no rain.

Soil: Well-drained soil is essential. Tolerates caliche, sand, and rocky sites.

Pruning: Can prune lightly to shape in spring and also remove seed pods if desired.ly wet soils (especially in winter). Water deeply but infrequently once established (every 2–4 weeks during dry periods). For new plants: water weekly until established (about one growing season). Cut back flower stalks after blooming to maintain form.