Tamarix parviflora
Smallflower tamarisk, Smallflower Tamarisk
Javier martin (via Wikimedia Commons) · CC0
Family: Tamaricaceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Tamarix parviflora (Smallflower tamarisk) is a non-native California shrub / tree in the Tamaricaceae family, recognized by Co-occurs with 4 other species; unique four-petaled flowers provide clear diagnostic.
Smallflower tamarisk is a naturalized shrub found in southern North Coast Ranges, southern Sierra Nevada Foothills, Tehama, Central Valley, western California, southern California coast, western Transverse Ranges, Great Basin, and Desert regions in washes, streambanks, and roadsides at elevations below 1,300 meters. Flowering from March to April, this plant produces delicate pale pink to white flowers in small clusters 1.5 to 4 centimeters long. Growing as a multi-stemmed shrub up to 5 meters tall with slender, spreading branches, it forms dense thickets in disturbed landscapes. Its small leaves are lanceolate, pointed, and tightly arranged along the branches, each measuring 2 to 2.5 millimeters long. The plant's compact flower clusters feature four small petals and sepals, creating a fine, feathery appearance characteristic of tamarisk species.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 4 other species; unique four-petaled flowers provide clear diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Washes, streambanks, slopes, roadsides
Elevation: < 1300 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Glenn, San Benito, Los Angeles, Tehama, Yolo, Colusa, Fresno, Riverside, Inyo, Ventura, Kern, San Diego, Monterey, Imperial, Santa Barbara, Butte, San Luis Obispo, Solano, Lake, Marin, Contra Costa, Napa, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, Alameda, Amador, Yuba, Merced, Lassen, Tuolumne, Sonoma, Siskiyou, San Joaquin
Outside California: to Washington, Mississippi, North Carolina, northern Mexico, native to southeastern Europe
Bloom period
Tamarix parviflora blooms Mar-Apr.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
How to tell it apart
vs Casuarina: Tamarix has jointed green twigs with scale leaves; Casuarina has grooved twigs with whorled scale teeth.; vs Artemisia: Tamarix has bladeless scale leaves on jointed twigs; Artemisia has small but distinct lobed leaves.; vs Neltuma: Tamarix has scale-like leaves on delicate twigs; mesquite has compound leaves with distinct leaflets.; vs Pinus: Tamarix has jointed green deciduous twigs; pine has woody branches with clustered needles.; vs Acacia: Tamarix has tiny scale leaves on jointed twigs; Acacia has distinct compound leaves or flattened leaf-like stems.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tamarix parviflora native to California?
No. Tamarix parviflora is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Tamarix parviflora bloom?
Tamarix parviflora blooms Mar-Apr.
Where in California does Tamarix parviflora grow?
Tamarix parviflora occurs in San Bernardino, Glenn, San Benito, Los Angeles, Tehama, Yolo, Colusa, Fresno and other counties, at elevations of < 1300 m.
What plant family does Tamarix parviflora belong to?
Tamarix parviflora is in the Tamaricaceae family, genus Tamarix.
Is Tamarix parviflora invasive in California?
Tamarix parviflora is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.