Tamarix ramosissima Pink Cascade

The Tamarix ramosissima 'Pink Cascade' is a large deciduous bush with a vaporous habit, and small bluish-green foliage reminiscent of a conifer. Between mid-summer and early autumn, it is covered with tiny, bright pink flowers, clustered in long and narrow plume-like clusters. It thrives in sandy, rather dry and not too rich soils, and is very well suited for planting on coastal areas. It is also an excellent windbreak.

The 'Pink Cascade' tamarisk belongs to the genus Tamarix, which includes about 70 species in the small family Tamaricaceae. It is native to a large geographic area, from southeastern Europe to Mongolia, passing through the steppes of Central Asia. This large bush or small tree has an arching habit, soft and gangly, very elegant. As indicated by its name "ramosissima," which means "very branched," it produces numerous branches densely inserted on the trunk. The tiny needle-like leaves, with a pretty bluish-green color, contribute to the overall feathery appearance and can evoke the foliage of a juniper with the exception that they are deciduous. The bark is a beautiful cinnamon color and cracks with age.
The species Tamarix ramosissima is one of the species that flowers in summer: indeed, it blooms on the current year's growth between July and September, depending on the region. It then produces a profusion of long, very narrow clusters made up of tiny bright pink flowers, which sometimes hide the foliage. After a few years, it reaches about 4m (13ft) in height and width if not pruned. Planting this species should be avoided in coastal areas of hot climates around the globe: it has shown invasive potential in South Africa, southeastern Australia, and the Pacific coast of the United States.

The 'Pink Cascade' Tamarix is a robust and very hardy bush. Accustomed to harsh and arid climates, it is perfectly suited for planting by the sea as a windbreak, as it withstands strong winds and salt spray. A sandy and poor, moist to dry soil in full sun will suit it perfectly. Pruning is optional, but the tree tends to become sparse after a few years, especially in too rich soil. This is not necessarily a problem if you want to achieve a tree-like habit, but to maintain a dense habit, you can severely prune in February-March and cut back the previous year's flowered shoots to 10 cm (4in) from their base. This does not compromise flowering, as the flowers are borne on the current year's shoots. You will thus obtain a densely leafy and very floriferous bush.

You can associate it with other bushes such as Griselina littoralis, Montpellier Rock Rose, or Elaeagnus umbellata, to create a beautiful coastal ensemble that changes throughout the year.