Desert Willow Bubba

Chilopsis linearis 'Bubba'

Zone: 6 to 10 

Height: 25-30 feet Spread: 25-30 feet 

Bloom Time: Spring through Summer Bloom Description: Dark Burgundy and Pink

Sun: Full sun, Water: Low to Moderate, tolerates: Drought, Dry Soil 

Texas Native ‘Bubba’ is a vigorous, fast-growing upright selection of desert willow that originated in Texas. Compared to other selections it has a strong vertical form and is less shrubby. It also has glossy, darker green, more lush foliage than other desert willows.  Starting in late spring and through the summer ‘Bubba’ produces masses of large, fragrant, two-tone burgundy and pink flowers. 

Like other desert willows ‘Bubba’ is a great choice for full sun, low maintenance, water efficient landscapes. Although it is not seedless, it produces fewer pods than most selections. Each pod containing many winged seeds. Noteworthy  It typically grows to 15-25’ tall with a spread to 10-15’ wide, though some varieties, like ‘Bubba’, grow taller. It is native to gravelly and rocky soils in the Southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico where it is usually found growing in desert grasslands, sandy washes or springs.

Over-watering or applying excessive fertilizer will cause harm, reducing the number of blooms and weakening this naturally hardy plant.

While the narrow, long leaf shape is indeed willow-like, Chilopsis linearis is in fact related to Catalpa trees, Yellow Bells (Tecoma stans), and Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans). While oversized in comparison to other members of its family. Shapely, slender branches can be trained to a variety of silhouettes as a single or multi-trunk tree or rounded out as a large shrub.  Excellent as specimen or in small groups in residential landscapes, in desert gardens, as tall hedge or screen, and on roadsides and median strips.