← Bedfellow

Mexican Palo Verde

Parkinsonia aculeata

Mexican palo verde (Jerusalem thorn) is a fast, green-barked desert tree with weeping branches and showers of yellow flowers, casting light shade with photosynthetic stems. Very drought-proof.

Family
Fabaceae
Type
tree
Lifespan
perennial
Height
15–30 ft
Spacing
15–25 ft apart
Light
sun
Soil moisture
dry
Soil pH
neutral, alkaline
Bloom
April, May, June, July
Bloom colors
yellow
Wildlife value
pollinators, butterflies, larval host
Landscape uses
specimen, hedge or screen
Native states
AZ, CA, FL, LA, NM, TX