Bubba Desert Willow

Chilopsis linearis ‘Bubba’ is an upright, fast-growing desert willow with broad dark green leaves, two-tone pink and burgundy flowers, and relatively little fruit. Its flowers are showy and fragrant, and the cultivar brings a long warm-season display to sunny landscapes. ## Form and mature size The [Henderson County Master Gardener profile](https://txmg.org/hendersonmg/files/2020/06/DESERT-WILLOW-%E2%80%98BUBBA%E2%80%99.pdf) lists ‘Bubba’ at 25–30 feet tall and wide, matching the current size range, and describes an upright form with pink and dark burgundy flowers. [Fanick Nursery’s cultivar sheet](https://www.fanicknursery.com/plantdb/trees/ornamental/Desert-Willow-Bubba(RGB).pdf) gives a smaller figure of up to 20 feet tall by 20 feet wide. [Trees and Shrubs Online](https://www.treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/chilopsis/chilopsis-linearis/) reports that a 20-year-old tree at the introducing garden reached about 12 metres. These are different published estimates; allow ample space in favorable growing conditions. ## Siting and seasonal interest Plant in full sun and well-drained soil. The cultivar profile lists zones 6–10 and spring-through-summer flowering. The selection was developed by Paul Cox at the San Antonio Botanical Garden and produces fewer seed pods than many desert willows, though it is not seedless. ## Maintenance Water while establishing and avoid prolonged overwatering. Train the young tree to a balanced single- or multi-trunk structure, then prune selectively to preserve its upright outline and remove damaged or crossing branches.