Cold hardiness & minimum temperature

Is African Tamarisk (Tamarix africana)cold hardy? Hardiness zone & min temp

Also called African tamarisk, African salt cedar, Black tamarisk.

More about african tamarisk

About African Tamarisk

Tamarix africana · also called African tamarisk, African salt cedar · flowering

Tamarix africana is a deciduous large shrub or small tree native to the western Mediterranean coast, Atlantic shores of southern Europe, and North Africa, where it colonises sandy, saline, and coastal habitats. It thrives in full sun with well-drained, even poor, sandy or saline soils and is exceptionally drought- and wind-tolerant once established. The most important care fact is that it excretes salt through its leaves and can suppress surrounding plant growth, so position it with care away from other garden plants. Not listed as toxic to cats or dogs by the ASPCA; considered non-toxic.

Cold limit: USDA 6-9 · RHS H6 (-15 to 35°C)

Watch for — Scale insects (latania and oystershell scale): Scale insects, particularly latania and oystershell scale, frequently colonise stems and bark; treat with horticultural oil spray in late winter before growth flushes.

What african tamarisk's hardiness rating actually means

Yes — african tamarisk is genuinely cold hardy. Rated RHS H6 and USDA 6-9, it lives outdoors all year and needs winter cold rather than protection from it. Its RHS rating of H6 means: Hardy throughout the UK and northern Europe. On the US scale that maps to USDA 6-9 — the zones where it can be left outdoors year-round.

New to these scales? The USDA hardiness zone map explained covers how the zone numbers work, and you can find your own zone with the zone finder.

Minimum temperature — and what happens below it

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly about −20 to −15 °C. African Tamarisk is built for winter — once established it takes hard frost and snow in its stride.

Concretely, for african tamarisk as it gets too cold:

It tolerates winter lows to about −20 to −15 °C once established.
Below its rated zone, the visible damage is browned or blackened top growth and, in the worst case, a killed crown or root.
First-year, newly planted, or container-grown specimens are noticeably less hardy than established garden plants — the roots are exposed.

Can african tamarisk go outside or overwinter — and where?

Plant it out within USDA 6-9 and it overwinters with little or no help.
It does not want to come indoors — a warm winter room actually weakens a hardy plant by denying it dormancy.
The real risks in its range are waterlogging, wind-rock on young plants, and a late hard frost on new growth — not ordinary winter cold.

Work back from your local frost dates with the frost-date calculator: the last spring frost and first autumn frost are what really decide when african tamarisk can be outside. US growers can check USDA zones; UK growers should use the RHS hardiness ratings, which match the H6 figure above.

African Tamarisk hardiness — frequently asked questions

Is african tamarisk cold hardy?

Yes — african tamarisk is genuinely cold hardy. Rated RHS H6 and USDA 6-9, it lives outdoors all year and needs winter cold rather than protection from it. An outdoor plant. African Tamarisk is hardy across USDA 6-9; it belongs in the ground or a frost-proof container, not on a windowsill, and many types actively need a cold winter to perform.

What is the minimum temperature african tamarisk can survive?

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly about −20 to −15 °C. African Tamarisk is built for winter — once established it takes hard frost and snow in its stride.

What hardiness zone is african tamarisk?

African Tamarisk is rated USDA 6-9 and RHS H6 — Hardy throughout the UK and northern Europe.

Can african tamarisk survive winter outside?

Plant it out within USDA 6-9 and it overwinters with little or no help. It does not want to come indoors — a warm winter room actually weakens a hardy plant by denying it dormancy. The real risks in its range are waterlogging, wind-rock on young plants, and a late hard frost on new growth — not ordinary winter cold.

What happens to african tamarisk below its minimum temperature?

It tolerates winter lows to about −20 to −15 °C once established. Below its rated zone, the visible damage is browned or blackened top growth and, in the worst case, a killed crown or root. First-year, newly planted, or container-grown specimens are noticeably less hardy than established garden plants — the roots are exposed.