Common Tamarisk, French Salt Cedar

Tamarix gallica is the Common Tamarisk or French Salt Cedar. This Tamarisk is also a shrub or small tree coming from Mediterranean climates of the central Mediterranean basin, northern Africa, southwest Europe and Saudi Arabia. The French Salt Cedar grows to a height between 4 and 7 metres, and to a comparable width. The plant is fairly fast growing, often multi-stemmed and crooked. The deciduous foliage is green to light-blue. The leaves are entire squamate, and their arrangement is imbricate. The whitish-pink flowers appear in summer. The single flower is 1.5 cm in size, but the flowers are arranged together in racemes or panicles, giving an appealing, delicate effect. The fruits are small capsules. Tamarix gallica is propagated by cuttings, and has a deep, extensive root system. The shrub is highly salt-tolerant and its site requirements are low. That means less demand with respect to irrigation, nutrients, as well as being both heat-tolerant and drought-resistant. Pruning is recommended to optimise growth and shape. In landscape design, Tamarix gallica can be used as specimen, dominant plant, in linear plantings. In natural garden themes such as rock or steppe gardens, it will have a light, playful effect. Tamarix gallica is not seen that much in Arriyadh, but it should be used more often, because it does not have the habit of exuding salt. It is often used as an ornamental plant because of its attractive flowers. This plant can be used in open country, as a coloniser, bank stabiliser and for environmental consolidation.