Chilopsis linearis, desert-willow
Abrahamson, Ilana L., compiler. 2026. Species Brief: Chilopsis linearis, desert-willow. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://research.fs.usda.gov/feis/species-briefs/chilin
This Species Brief is a concise summary of the biological, ecological, and fire‑related characteristics of an individual species derived from a Fire Effects Information System (FEIS) Species Review.
| Attribute | Characteristic | Justification | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological characteristics | |||
| Life form | Shrub; Tree | Desert-willow is a deciduous small tree or large shrub, typically 3 to 7.5 m tall but sometimes up to 12 m. | FEIS: Botanical Description; Stand Structure [1] |
| Typical lifespan | 51-100 years* | The source does not provide explicit information about the typical lifespan of desert-willow, although it may live as long as 100 years. MoreOther information on age class structure was lacking in the literature. | FEIS: Stand Structure [1] |
| Life cycle | Perennial | Desert-willow is a deciduous small tree or shrub that may live up to 100 years. | FEIS: Botanical Description; Stand Structure [1] |
| Drought tolerance | Low* | Desert-willow is an obligate outwash or riparian species restricted to moist areas within its arid climate. MoreIt is somewhat drought intolerant, mainly avoiding drought by reducing transpiration and shedding its leaves. | FEIS: Site Characteristics [1] |
| Rooting depth | Deep | Desert-willow has a taproot and is deep rooted, with horizontal roots that may extend as far as 15 m. | FEIS: Botanical Description [1] |
| Bark thickness at maturity | Thin | Desert-willow's bark is very thin (less than 0.6 cm), and provides little protection from fire. | FEIS: Botanical Description; Immediate Fire Effects [1] |
| Sheds low branches | Rarely/No* | Desert-willow is often shrubby, with several stems arising from the root crown. The source does not provide explicit information about shedding of low branches. | FEIS: Botanical Description [1] |
| Reproduction and Regeneration | |||
| Adventitious buds | Root crown; Yes, unspecified* | Desert-willow sprouts from the root crown after top-kill by fire, flood damage, or cutting. It may also layer. | FEIS: Vegetative Reproduction and Regeneration [1] |
| Time to reproductive maturity | Insufficient information | The source does not provide explicit information about the time to reproductive maturity. | FEIS [1] |
| Soil seed bank longevity | Transient (<1 year) | Desert-willow has a transient, soil-stored seed bank. Seeds probably remain viable only until late in the spring following dispersal. | FEIS: Seed Banking; Germination and Seedling Establishment [1] |
| Month(s) when seeds typically ripen | August*; September*; October*; November* | Fruits ripen from late summer to late fall and persist on the plant through winter. | FEIS: Seasonal Development [1] |
| Serotinous cones | N/A | This attribute applies to conifers. Desert-willow produces slender capsules containing numerous wind- and water-dispersed seeds. | FEIS: Botanical Description; Seed Production; Seed Dispersal [1] |
| Seed dispersal mechanism | Wind; Water | Desert-willow seeds are dispersed by wind and water, and the seed hairs aid dispersal. Dispersal coincides with winter and spring floods. | FEIS: Seed Dispersal; Seasonal Development [1] |
| Seed dispersal distance | Insufficient information | The source does not provide explicit information about seed dispersal distance. | FEIS: Seed Dispersal [1] |
| Optimal conditions for seedling establishment | Bare soil*; Shade | A moist substrate is required for germination, and flooding and light shade promote germination and recruitment. While not explicitly stated, it likely establishes on bare soil after floods. | FEIS: Germination and Seedling Establishment; Regeneration Processes [1] |
| Successional Status | |||
| Shade tolerance | Moderately shade tolerant* | Desert-willow is most common in open areas, although it is somewhat shade tolerant and can establish near parent plants. | FEIS: Successional Status [1] |
| Successional status | Early | Desert-willow typically occurs in riparian communities where regular flooding maintains early succession. It also occurs in early postfire environments. | FEIS: Successional Status; Site Characteristics [1] |
| Fire | |||
| Primary fire response(s) or adaptation(s) | Recover/Resprout; Recruit* | Desert-willow typically sprouts from the root crown after top-kill by low- to moderate-severity fire. MoreIt may also establish from seed after fire on moist sites, as its seeds are wind- and water-dispersed. It may not survive severe or repeated fire. | FEIS: Fire Adaptations and Plant Response to Fire; Immediate Fire Effects [1] |
| Germination is fire stimulated | Rarely/No | The source describes no heat- or smoke-cued germination. Desert-willow seeds are not dormant and germinate readily on moist substrates, with germination promoted by flooding and light shade. | FEIS: Germination and Seedling Establishment; Seed Banking [1] |
| Flowering/fruiting is fire stimulated | Rarely/No* | Flowering is triggered by winter and summer rains, and flower and fruit production are positively associated with precipitation. MoreReproduction does not appear to have fire cues, but the source does not provide explicit information about fire-stimulated flowering or fruiting. | FEIS: Seasonal Development; Regeneration Processes [1] |
| Season when it is most sensitive to fire | Insufficient information | The source does not provide explicit information about seasonal differences in fire sensitivity for desert-willow. MorePostfire sprout mortality may be high during hot, dry periods and when water tables drop. | FEIS: Fire Adaptations and Plant Response to Fire [1] |
| Plant flammability | Low* | Direct information on desert-willow flammability was lacking, but it may have less canopy fuel than some associated species. | FEIS: Fuel Characteristics [1] |
| Early colonizer/recolonizer of burned or disturbed sites | Frequently | While few studies quantify desert-willow's response to fire, it can occur in early postfire environments. It sprouts after top-kill by fire, and may also establish from seed. | FEIS: Fire Adaptations and Plant Response to Fire; Immediate Fire Effects; Fire Management Considerations [1] |
| Effect of fire exclusion on population | Insufficient information | The source does not provide explicit information about the effect of fire exclusion on desert-willow populations. MoreHistorically, sparse surface fuels and the variable patchiness of desert plant communities probably limited fire size, severity, and intensity, particularly in the riparian zone. Fire intervals may be long, and flooding is the primary disturbance, but there is uncertainty regarding historic fire frequencies in these communities. | FEIS: Fire Regimes; Successional Status [1] |
| Is this species typically managed with prescribed fire? | Rarely/No* | Prescribed fire may be used in southwestern riparian areas to promote native vegetation and reduce invasive species, but little information was available on its use in these communities. MoreOne study recommends against using prescribed fire in late-successional riparian woodlands of the Southwest. | FEIS: Fire Management Considerations [1] |
| Predominant historical fire frequency where it most commonly occurs | Frequent*; Infrequent* | Historical fire intervals vary in the washes and riparian woodlands where desert-willow occurs. MoreLANDFIRE models classify the cottonwood-willow communities (Warm Desert Riparian Systems) where it occurs into a frequent group (under 35-year intervals, larger rivers) and an infrequent group (over 200-year intervals, smaller desert stringers). Historical fire frequencies are not well known. | FEIS: Fire Regimes [1]; also see LANDFIRE Biophysical Settings section, below |
| Predominant historical fire severity where it most commonly occurs | Low*; Mixed*; Replacement* | Most fires were likely patchy and of low severity because of patchy, sparse desert fuels, though mixed- and high-severity fires likely occurred as well. MoreLANDFIRE models characterize larger-river communities as mixed severity and smaller desert riparian stringers as replacement severity. Historical fire severities are not well known. | FEIS: Fire Regimes [1] |
| Predominant historical fire regime group where it most commonly occurs | 5*; 1* | Historical fire regimes vary in the washes and riparian woodlands where desert-willow occurs. MoreDesert-willow is most dominant in smaller desert riparian stringers, which LANDFIRE places in Fire Regime Group 5 (infrequent, replacement-severity fire). It also occurs along larger rivers in Group 1 (frequent, low- to mixed-severity fire). Historical fire regimes in these communities are not well known. | FEIS: Fire Regimes [1] |
| Alters historical fuel characteristics of ecosystems where it occurs | Rarely/No | Desert-willow is a native component of riparian communities. MoreAltered fuel loads and fire regimes have been associated with nonnative invaders such as tamarisk and Russian-olive rather than with desert-willow. | FEIS: Fuel Characteristics; Fire Management Considerations [1] |
1. Fryer, Janet L. 2022. Chilopsis linearis, desert-willow. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://research.fs.usda.gov/feis/species-reviews/chilin