Tamarix aphylla

Athel, Athel

Family: Tamaricaceae · Type: shrub · Not Native

Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes

Athel is a naturalized shrub found in eastern San Diego County and desert regions in washes and roadsides at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering from May to November, this plant produces small pale flowers in delicate clusters up to 6 centimeters long. Growing as a large shrub or tree reaching 25 meters tall, it develops distinctively jointed stems with leaves that completely encircle the branches. Its tiny leaves are approximately 2 millimeters long with a sharp point, giving the plant a unique textural appearance. The plant produces five-petaled flowers with oval petals about 2 to 2.5 millimeters long, accompanied by five stamens.

Habitat: Uncommon. Washes, roadsides

Bloom period: May-Nov

Elevation: < 200 m

Bioregions: e SCo, D

California counties: Ventura, San Bernardino, San Diego, Imperial, Riverside, Inyo, Fresno, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Kern, Kings, Santa Barbara, San Joaquin, Yolo

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.