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. We have the talent and innovation of NCSU's Dr. Ranney to thank for this new, uniquely compact introduction.