Mexican palo verde

Parkinsonia aculeata

Fast-growing leguminous deciduous tree with spines, up to 35 ft. tall with photosynthetic green bark and showy yellow flower clusters, tinged red-orange in the centers, blooming May and sporadically year-round. Adapted to a wide range of well-drained soils from sand dunes to clays in arid desert arroyos, disturbed grasslands, roadsides, riparian areas and low sites where water accumulates; up to 5,000 ft. elevation. Excellent pioneer on disturbed sites, poor soils, saline soils and sites with intermittent flooding. Less desirable landscaping plant than other palo verdes (Parkinsonia spp.); use in erosion control, reclamation or as a natural hedge. May form dense thickets. Possibly originated in Mexico, naturalizing in southwestern desert states. Foliage and pods can be used as emergency forage for desert livestock and are eaten by wildlife. Flowers attract birds and butterflies and are favored by honeybees. Caterpillar host of the Dot-lined angle moth and the Clench's greenstreak butterfly.