The other day I posted a picture of my new little Tamarix twigs that I purchased and received from EBay. I was fantasizing about my little twig growing into a beauty like the one below which I was introduced to on last summer's garden walk, and then I got this.
A comment from a reader saying I better watch out that these things are invasive and against the law in some parts of the country. Thanks, reader, for raining on my beautiful Tamarix parade! No, I'm kidding, I appreciate the information and lord knows I don't want to be famous one day for planting something in the Midwest that ruins the environment. So, on the suggestion of the commenter I emailed my local extension office.
A comment from a reader saying I better watch out that these things are invasive and against the law in some parts of the country. Thanks, reader, for raining on my beautiful Tamarix parade! No, I'm kidding, I appreciate the information and lord knows I don't want to be famous one day for planting something in the Midwest that ruins the environment. So, on the suggestion of the commenter I emailed my local extension office.Reply from Ask Extension -- Hort Corner -- Trees & Shrubs
Extension Message (Tamarisk = invasive ?)
Hi,Different parts of the country have different plants on their invasive plant lists. Here in Illinois Tamarix is not listed as an invasive plant species.
I'm pretty darn excited. I had read that Tamarix can be invasive but considering the photo above is one of the only 2 I've ever seen in my life (the other was right around the corner from the garden walk house), I wondered if it was really that invasive here or if we are really just that compliant with not planting invasive plants in Illinois. And since I was so not looking forward to the moral dilemma I'd face (A. Plant it anyway and hope for the best or B. Compost it) I'm relieved to learn that I can just plant it and enjoy it.
Man, gardening can really be stressful!
