Tree Spotlight: The Desert Willow

March 3, 2026

The desert willow (Chilopsis linearis) isn't a true willow — it's a name borrowed for the shape of its leaves, not its water needs. That's exactly why it's one of the first species LVAS recommends when a resident is converting a turf yard to xeriscape: it reads as lush and shading from the street, but it's built for exactly this climate.