Tamarix Ramosissima Rubra Red Tamarix

Tamarix ramosissima Rubra, or Red tamarisk, is a hardy, low-maintenance, deciduous landscape shrub with the added benefit of attractive late-season flowers. It has received the RHS Perfect for Pollinators designation because of its value as a nectar source for bees.

Tamarix ramosissima is native to Russia and long cultivated in western Europe. Tamarix ramosissima Rubra was discovered in the Netherlands. The tiny grey-green leaves, similar to cedar foliage, create a feathery appearance in the landscape, an impression that is only increased when the long plumes of tiny red-pink flowers emerge in late summer and autumn, providing a welcome burst of colour when many other flowering plants are done for the year.

Tamarix ramosissima Rubra is the hardiest of the tamarisks, being hardy down to -20C and therefore able to survive even the coldest of UK winters. If left unpruned it will grow to a mature height and spread of 4-8 metres in 10 to 20 years, forming a billowing cloud of foliage and flowers, but it will flower most profusely if cut back to 15 cm from the ground every spring. If planting in a group Red Tamarisk plants 60 cm apart.

Plant Tamarix ramosissima Rubra in full sun in an exposed or sheltered position in moist but well-drained clay, loam or sand soil with an acid to neutral pH. As one of the common names for Tamarisk is Salt Cedar, it should come as little surprise that Tamarix ramosissima Rubra is extremely tolerant of salt and will thrive in sandy coastal locations. It is equally well suited to city gardens because of its high tolerance for pollution. As it is deer resistant, it’s a good choice for country gardeners, too!

The classic use of Tamarix ramosissima Rubra is as a windbreak hedging in coastal regions, especially Cornwall, but it is a more versatile plant than that! A single specimen makes an excellent shrub or small tree in a mixed border in a small city garden, where its feathery appearance can be shown to advantage, and pruning can keep it from growing out of bounds. On a dry slope where erosion is a problem, Red Tamarisk can be a planted and allowed to spread with little or no annual maintenance required.

Tamarix ramosissima Rubra, long used for coastal windbreaks and hedges, also makes a unique and attractive specimen planting in inland gardens, whether city or country! Read more about Tamarix on our blog.