French Tamarisk Plant Care

French Tamarisk (Tamarix gallica) belongs to the Tamaricaceae family within the Tamarix genus. French Tamarisk is also known as Tamarisk.

French Tamarisk displays a graceful, upright shrub growth habit, reaching up to 10 ft tall with a spread of approximately 8 ft. French Tamarisk produces small, pink to white feathery blooms in dense spikes.

Leaf size: approximately 0.5 inches.

Water a young or newly planted French Tamarisk every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

French Tamarisk thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Tamarix gallica tolerates temperatures of 50–90°F. French Tamarisk prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Sandy, well-draining soil with good aeration. Good drainage is essential for French Tamarisk to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed French Tamarisk every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and sandy, well-draining soil with good aeration. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

French Tamarisk is suited to USDA Zone 12a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

French Tamarisk can spread to about 8 ft (2.4 m) and reach about 10 ft (3 m) tall. Space plants about 8 ft (2.4 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Prune French Tamarisk while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

French Tamarisk is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 12). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

French Tamarisk can be propagated through seeds, softwood cuttings.

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French Tamarisk is susceptible to aphids, scale insects, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

French Tamarisk grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. In cooler regions, grow French Tamarisk as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.