Pink Cascade Tamarisk

We saw this plant in Stanley Park (Calgary, not Vancouver), growing at the edge of a tennis court.

"There have been reports that an invasive shrub, Tamarix ramosissima, is being sold in garden centers and nurseries throughout Alberta. These shrubs are being sold as ornamentals with the common name of “Pink Cascade”.

Tamarix ramosissima, also known as Saltcedar or Tamarisk, is an aggressive ornamental of concern throughout North America. It is listed as one of the “Dirty Dozen” by the Nature Conservancy because of the impact it has on ecosystems. It was introduced to the western United States in the late 1800s as an ornamental. It escaped cultivation and is now established in many regions of the U.S., including Washington, Idaho and Montana where it is a serious environmental concern.

Saltcedar has not escaped ornamental plantings in Alberta to date but is a species that should be of significant concern to all Albertans because of the impact saltcedar can have on riparian habitats and other ecosystems. Work is already being done to monitor saltcedar along many of Alberta’s watercourses in an effort to prevent it from becoming established. All Albertans can help by not planting potentially invasive species, such as Pink Cascade, in their gardens." From www1.agric.gov.ab.ca.