Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Shrubs
Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Flowering Shrubs
Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Deciduous Shrubs
Proven Winners® EL NIÑO­™ Desert Orchid 
Chitalpa 'NCXC1'
Botanical Reference: 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 North American native hybrid that is as easy to grow as it is beautiful. We have the talent and innovation of NCSU's Dr. Ranney to thank for this new, uniquely compact introduction.
 
USDA Zone 6-9 (-10°F/-23°C)
Exposure Full sun, Part sun
Height 5 - 8'
Width 4 - 6'
Finish Time 1 season
Type Deciduous
Bloom Time Summer
Flower Color Purple
Foliage Color Green