General Information
Species Name: Tamarix ramosissima
Also Known As: five-stamen Tamarisk, Tamarisk, Tamarix
Family: Tamaricaceae (Tamarix)
Growth Form: Shrub
Life Span: Perennial
Flowering Dates: May-September
Origin: Asia
Noxious: Yes. Saltcedar is listed as a State Noxious Weed under the Noxious Weed Control Act in Nebraska, which means it is required by law for it to be removed from public and private land in the state.
Category 4: Noxious Aquatic Invasive Species
Why Is It Invasive?
Saltcedar is a rampantly invasive shrub that has dominated riparian zones of arid climates. A massive invasion of saltcedar in the western United States has dominated over a million acres. It directly competes with native vegetation that is essential for wildlife habitat. Saltcedar also invades shore areas making them unsuitable for recreational activities. Typically found in conjunction with other Tamarix species and resultant hybrids, T. ramosissima displaces native plants, drastically alters habitat and food webs for animals, depletes water sources, increases erosion, flood damage, soil salinity, and fire potential.
What Does It Look Like?
General Characteristics
Saltcedar is a deciduous shrub that can grow up to 15-20 feet (4.6-6.1 meters) in height. The bark is smooth and reddish on younger plants, turning brown and furrowed with age. Saltcedar has a deep, extensive root system that can extend to the water table. It has a primary root that grows with little branching until it reaches the water table. New stems can sprout from roots if the primary stem is damaged.
Flowers
The 5-petaled flowers are pale pink to white and grow in loose branching clusters. Flowers are small (less than 1/8 of an inch) and bloom from early spring to late fall.
Leaves
Leaves are small, scale-like, gray-green in color, and overlap along the stem. They look similar to those of northern white cedar. Unlike northern white cedar, saltcedar leaves fall off in the winter. Saltcedar leaves have special glands that secrete salt. The salt-covered leaves can accumulate on the soil surface and increase the salinity of the soil.
Stems
The bark on the stems and trunk is smooth when the plant is younger and can get more grooved as the plant ages.
Seeds
Fruit capsules contain numerous tiny (0.04 in. [0.1 cm] diameter) seeds. Seeds are black with a tuft of hair attached to one end, allowing them to float on wind or water. A single plant can produce several hundred thousand seeds in a year. However, these seeds are short lived and do not form a persistent seed bank.
Photos
Where Does It Grow?
Saltcedar currently infests ~1,500 acres in Nebraska. Most infestations occur along stream and riverbanks, and lake shores throughout the state. Saltcedar has been documented on the Platte, Missouri and Republican Rivers. It is also found on several reservoirs in the state.
How Does It Spread?
Saltcedar was introduced to the western United States as an ornamental shrub and windbreak species in the 1800s. Tiny seeds are dispersed by wind and water.
How Do I Control It?
A combination of two or more control methods is the best approach to take when controlling saltcedar. By utilizing two or more control options, your odds become greater that more of the targeted plant will be controlled. Saltcedar is capable of producing millions of seeds throughout the growing season. Continued monitoring and follow-up control measures are essential to effectively control saltcedar.
Management of invasive aquatic plants involving either mechanical removal of plants or application of herbicides to public waters requires a permit. Contact the Contact the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for more information.
Mechanical
Small infestations of newly emerged plants can be dug by hand taking care to remove as much of the root mass as possible. Removed plants should be placed in a dry area that is not subject to flooding or water runoff. Dried plants can be burned. It is necessary to monitor the control area for re-growth from roots to seeds. Mowing of saltcedar plants is not recommended. This activity creates many small plant parts that can re-vegetate. Large plants can be cut down and moved to a dry site for drying. However, the stumps need to be surfaced treated with an approved herbicide.
Saltcedar will primarily be located on stream and riverbanks or lake shores. It is usually not found in dry areas but has been documented on a few isolated dry sites. Plants found on dry sites still produce many seeds that may find favorable conditions for germination.
Mechanical and cultural control has limited success and should be incorporated with other control options.
If you are on public land or unsure of which method(s) would work best on your private land, contact the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission or your local county weed control authority to determine appropriate removal methods.
Biological
The use of natural enemies (biocontrol agents) for the control of saltcedar is currently being studied in Nebraska. These agents work slowly, and favorable results may not be seen for many years. Biocontrol agents should be only considered as a tool to assist in control and should never be relied upon to completely control any noxious weed. The method of control shall be as effective as the use of herbicides, and shall be approved by your local county weed control authority.
Cultural
CLEAN your watercraft, trailer, angling gear and other equipment. Remove all aquatic vegetation and animal species from your equipment.
DRAIN your watercraft at the ramp by removing the boat plug and draining all live wells and ballast tanks.
DRY your watercraft, trailer and other equipment for at least 7 days before visiting another waterbody. If coming from a known zebra mussel infested waterbody, allow your watercraft and equipment to dry for at least 30 days before using them on an un-infested waterbody.
DON'T LET IT LOOSE. Do not release or transport exotic or non-native fish species to new ecosystems, and do not dump aquariums. It is unlawful to release any aquatic species into a waterbody other than the one from which it was harvested. Doing so can promote the spread of AIS.
Chemical
The use of herbicides can be an effective tool to assist in controlling noxious weeds. A person needs to identify the problem and the appropriate herbicide for the plant as well as the site that the plant is growing. If the noxious weed infestation is severe and scattered across a large area, then a broadcast application may be warranted. However, if the noxious weeds are in patches or a few scattered plants here and there a person may be able to spot treat individual plants or patches. his approach requires less herbicide and has minimal impact on native plants and the environment. Controlling noxious weeds with herbicides in only one tool and should never be the only control option.
Application of chemicals to public waters requires a permit. Contact the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for more information.
For chemical control on private land and/or waters, please refer to the 2025 Guide for Weed, Disease and Insect Management in Nebraska or contact your local county weed control authority.
What Should I Do If I See It in Nebraska?
If you see saltcedar in Nebraska, you should report it to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission's Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Program using their AIS Report Form. For guidance on what information to include in your report, check out our reporting tips.
References and More Information
California Invasive Plant Council
Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
Global Invasive Species Database
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
National Invasive Species Information Center
Nebraska Department of Agriculture
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Nebraska Weed Control Association