Plant Type

Tree, Shrub

 

Height Range

12-25'

 

Flower Color

Purple, Violet

 

Flower Season

Spring, Summer

 

Leaf Color

Green

 

Bark Color

Brown, Green

 

Fruit Color

Brown

 

Fruit Season

Winter, Fall

Sun

Full

 

Water

Low

 

Growth Rate

Moderate

 

Soil Type

Sandy, Clay, Loam, Rocky, Unparticular

 

Soil Condition

Average, Poor, Well-drained, Dry

 

Soil pH

Neutral, Basic

 

Adverse Factors

Attracts Bees

Design Styles

Meadow, Mediterranean, Ranch, Spanish

 

Accenting Features

Multi-trunk Tree, Showy Flowers, Silhouette, Specimen

 

Seasonal Interest

Spring, Summer

 

Location Uses

Background, Shrub Border, Foundation, Patio, Walls / Fences

 

Special Uses

Screen, Wind Break, Fire Resistant, Naturalizing, Small Spaces

 

Attracts Wildlife

Hummingbirds

'Lucretia Hamilton' is the perfect desert willow for attracting hummingbirds to patios and small yards. A naturally compact grower, this selection provides a long blooming summer display of stunning burgundy flowers. And during the winter and early spring, its finely textured branching makes an especially nice focal point when planted against walls and fences. (Miss Lucretia stays smaller in zone 6 climates hence the significant variation in mature height and spread.) Selected by Ron Gass of Mountain States Nursery. 12 to 18 feet tall and wide.

Grow in full sun in well-drained, loose soils; cannot tolerate overwatering. Cold hardy to -15F once established, but may experience some die-back in particularly hard winters or as it establishes. It does, however, thrive with reflective winter heat, so siting it against a south, west, or even east facing wall can help it over-winter. Flowers on new wood and so pruning, if necessary, ought to occur afterwards. It is quite xeric and requires no supplemental watering after establishment; however, a monthly soak will encourage better flowering.