El Niño® Chitalpa

The dark purple flowers look for all the world like orchids, but this interesting shrub or miniature tree is actually an intergeneric hybrid of desert willow (Chilopsis linearis)  and catalpa (Catalpa sp.). Chilopsis is well-known for its tolerance to poor soils and the dry heat of the American Southwest, its Catalpa percentage imbues it with wonderful performance in Asheville, North Carolina, with no signs of mildew. Look for its remarkable blooms to appear in late spring/early summer and sporadically appear throughout the summer, all the better to enjoy its beautiful fragrance. El Niño desert orchid is a new and very special flowering shrub that is as easy to grow as it is beautiful. 
 
Features: Compact, Deer resistant, Fragrant
 
USDA Zone 6 - 9 (-10°F/-23°C)
Exposure: Full sun, Part sun
Height 10 - 15'
Width 8 - 10'
Type: Deciduous
Bloom Time: Summer
Flower Color: Purple
Foliage Color: Green
 
Soil: Any well-drained soil will do. 
Pruning: Prune to shape in early spring if desired. 
 
Growing Tips: 
At the colder end of its hardiness range, it may die back to the ground in cold winters. Wait until new growth begins to emerge before removing any dead wood.
 
Available in 4" pot