Discover the Chilopsis linearis 'Bubba,' a distinctive selection crafted by Civano Growers for the Bubba Line of Desert Willows. Originating from innovative breeding techniques, 'Bubba' showcases adaptability and resilience, thriving in arid landscapes reminiscent of its native regions. This unique shrub is well-suited for a range of climates, making it an exceptional choice for landscape architects seeking a resilient and visually striking plant.
Architectural Form and Foliage:
Civano's 'Bubba' Desert Willow presents a captivating architectural form with its gracefully cascading branches and lush green foliage. The plant's unique growth habit and elegantly arranged leaves provide landscape architects with a versatile design element. Whether utilized as a standalone focal point, an accent in mixed plantings, or integrated into a lush backdrop, 'Bubba' adds sophistication and exclusivity to any outdoor design.
Floral Display and Growth Speed:
The true allure of 'Bubba' lies in its exquisite flowers, which boast wo-toned burgundy and pink tones, creating a captivating display throughout the warm seasons. Exclusive to Civano Growers, the shrub exhibits a moderate growth rate, offering landscape architects a perfect balance between prompt establishment and long-term manageability. The vibrant blooms of 'Bubba' contribute to a visually dynamic and vibrant landscape.
Light and Water Requirements:
Thriving under abundant sunlight, Chilopsis linearis 'Bubba' unveils its full potential when exposed to at least six hours of sunlight daily. While adaptable to various light conditions, ample sunlight enhances flowering and highlights the unique patterns of its blossoms. As a drought-tolerant selection, 'Bubba' requires consistent watering during the establishment phase, ensuring optimal growth and resilience.
Wildlife Support and Biodiversity:
With origins deeply rooted in the efforts of Civano Growers, 'Bubba' Desert Willow contributes to local biodiversity by attracting pollinators such as butterflies and bees. Landscape architects can leverage this ecological benefit when crafting outdoor spaces that prioritize supporting native pollinating wildlife. 'Bubba' also demonstrates resistance to browsing by rabbits and deer.
Challenges and Considerations:
While generally low-maintenance, 'Bubba' prompts designers to consider its mature size and growth habit during the planning stages. Leveraging its well-structured growth can contribute to creating visually dynamic landscapes. Regular maintenance practices, such as pruning, can enhance blooming cycles, ensuring a continuous display of its unique and vibrant flowers.
Integration into Landscape Designs:
A special featured plant of Civano Growers, Chilopsis linearis 'Bubba' effortlessly integrates into diverse landscape designs with its exclusive blooms and architectural elegance. Designers can use it to infuse exclusivity into xeriscape gardens, as a stunning focal point in rock gardens, or as a distinctive element in mixed plantings, enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal of the outdoor space.
Designing with 'Bubba' Desert Willow:
For landscape architects and designers, Chilopsis linearis 'Bubba' provides an exclusive opportunity to incorporate unique flower patterns, wildlife support, and an adaptable essence into their designs. Created by Civano Growers, this selection, contributes to the creation of visually dynamic and environmentally rich outdoor spaces, reflecting a commitment to innovation and beauty in landscaping.
FAMILY
Bignoniaceae
MATURE HEIGHT
25 to 30 ft
GROWTH HABIT
Chilopsis linearis 'Bubba' is a fast-growing, upright, vigorous cultivar of desert willow that exhibits a strong, upright, and multi-trunked growth habit. This deciduous tree is less shrubby than other varieties, ultimately forming an airy, upright form with a canopy of glossy, deep green foliage and a height and spread reaching up to 25–30 feet. It can be trained to have a single trunk or maintained as a large shrub, and its branches naturally create a slender, weeping silhouette.
WATER REQUIREMENT
Moderate Water, Drought Tolerant
HARDY TO
'-10°F
NATIVE REGION
Central Mexico, west Texas, southern New Mexico, southern and central Arizona, southern Nevada, California and northern Baja California
TYPE
Tree to shrub form
SOIL TYPE
Well-drained. Chilopsis linearis 'Bubba' prefers well-drained soil and is highly adaptable, thriving in a range of soil types including sandy, loamy, and rocky soils, as well as limestone and clay, though its growth may be slower in heavy clay. The most important factor is excellent drainage, as this plant is not tolerant of standing water. It can also grow well in acidic, neutral, or alkaline soil conditions.
MAINTENACE TIPS
Requires minimal water and no fertilizer once established, as overwatering and excessive nutrients promote weak, leggy growth and fewer blooms.
ELEVATION
to 5000 feet
25 to 30 ft
MATURE WIDTH
LEAF SHAPE
Chilopsis linearis 'Bubba' has a simple, linear, and lanceolate leaf. The foliage is deciduous, a glossy, darker green than other varieties, and has a finer texture, giving the tree a more lush appearance.
FLOWER COLOR
Burgundy and white
FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS
The flowers of Chilopsis linearis 'Bubba' are large, fragrant, two-toned, trumpet-shaped blossoms, with a deep burgundy and pink coloration and a yellow throat. These showy, orchid-like flowers appear in clusters, or terminal panicles, at the ends of the branches from late spring through summer and into early fall. As a cultivar of the desert willow, 'Bubba' also produces fewer of the characteristic brown seed pods than the native species.
FRUIT/SEED
The fruit of the Chilopsis linearis 'Bubba' cultivar is a dry, brown, elongated capsule or seed pod that follows the summer bloom. While the regular desert willow is known for producing many seed pods, the 'Bubba' cultivar is noted for having significantly fewer pods, with each pod containing numerous winged seeds. The overall seed and fruit production is very minimal compared to the parent species, which makes it a preferred ornamental tree for landscapers who want to avoid the "messy" appearance of discarded pods and unwanted seedlings.
SUN EXPOSURE
Full Sun
POLLINATORS
The 'Bubba' desert willow, Chilopsis linearis 'Bubba', is a hardy, fragrant, flowering ornamental tree that provides nectar for hummingbirds, butterflies, and native bees, including large carpenter bees and bumblebees. Its blooms support pollinators from late spring through summer, while seed-eating birds consume its pods. The tree also serves as a larval host for moths like the rustic sphinx moth and provides nesting habitat for various native bees.
PRUNING TIPS
Prune Chilopsis linearis 'Bubba' during winter dormancy or early spring to shape the tree and promote stronger branching. As this cultivar blooms on new wood, pruning during these times will encourage more profuse flowering later in the season. Regular trimming can help maintain the desired form, whether as a multi-trunked shrub or single-trunk tree, while removing dead, damaged, or irregular branches improves overall health. For young trees, avoid pruning in the first two to three years to establish a strong structure. Throughout the year, promptly remove any suckers that appear at the base to maintain the tree shape.
