Bloomipedia
Desert willow (Chilopsis linearis)
Photo: Steve Taylor via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Desert willow

Chilopsis linearis

Desert willow (Chilopsis linearis) is a shrub or small tree in the Bignoniaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–September across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Desert willow is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 3 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–September.

9states where USDA records it
3Bloomipedia state lists include it
9,851U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico

Quick look

Chilopsis is a monotypic genus of flowering plants containing the single species Chilopsis linearis. It is known commonly as desert willow or desert-willow because of its willow-like leaves, but it is not a true willow – being instead a member of the catalpa family.

  • It belongs to the Bignoniaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a tree with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 9 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada. NatureServe
  • In Arizona, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–September. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as purple. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as early summer. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 25 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 1,861 research-grade sightings of it in Arizona, ranking #50 among the 132 flowers on our Arizona list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,008 research-grade sightings of it in New Mexico, ranking #49 among the 152 flowers on our New Mexico list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 967 research-grade sightings of it in Nevada, ranking #30 among the 132 flowers on our Nevada list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,712 records)
Bloom time in the 3 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
ArizonaNativeMay–September1,861
New MexicoNativefew records (48)1,008
NevadaNativeApril–September967

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Arizona
Salvage assessed On Arizona Native Plant Law protected plants (Ariz. Admin. Code R3-3 Art. 11, App. A, eff. Feb. 2, 2025): salvage assessed (permit needed to remove). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Arizona. AAC R3-3 App. A
New Mexico
Not listed Not on New Mexico state endangered plant species (19.21.2.9 NMAC). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in New Mexico. 19.21.2.9 NMAC
Nevada
Not listed Not on Nevada fully protected plants, critically endangered (NAC 527.010). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Nevada. NAC 527.010
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Please leave it where it grows

Please don't pick or dig this flower: it's on Arizona's rare plant list (salvage assessed). AAC R3-3 App. A

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records desert willow in 9 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, California, Georgia, Kansas, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah.

Arizona counties with USDA records: Cochise, Coconino, Gila, Graham, La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Yavapai, Yuma.

New Mexico counties with USDA records: Bernalillo, Chaves, Dona Ana, Eddy, Grant, Hidalgo, Lincoln, Luna, Otero, Roosevelt, Sierra, Socorro, Valencia.

Nevada counties with USDA records: Clark, Lincoln.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Desert willow a high shade tolerance, high drought tolerance and low moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 6.6 to 10.0 and winter lows down to -23 °F.

Shade tolerance
High
Drought tolerance
High
Moisture use
Low
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse
Soil pH range
6.6 to 10.0
Minimum temperature tolerated
-23 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
150
Annual precipitation range
4 to 15 inches
Minimum root depth
12 inches
Salinity tolerance
Low
Fertility requirement
Low
Growth rate
Rapid
Lifespan
Long
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Brown · Fall to Fall
Can be propagated by
bare root, container, cuttings, seed
Commercial availability
Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for CHLI2. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 69 counties across 6 states; the most are in Texas (36), New Mexico (13), Arizona (12).

More from the Bignoniaceae family (3 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): American trumpet vine, Cross vine, Northern catalpa.

More Arizona flowers

Northern catalpa (Catalpa speciosa)

Northern catalpa

Catalpa speciosa

🌷 Flowering tree

🌷 Grown in Arizona gardens
Saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea)

Saguaro

Carnegiea gigantea

★ AZ state flowerNative

🌼 Blooms in AZ: April–June
Creosote bush (Larrea tridentata)

Creosote bush

Larrea tridentata

Native

🌼 Blooms in AZ: March–April

Sources