Parkinsonia aculeata     
Mexican palo verde   
Fabaceae Family     

Form: low, rounded, multistemmed tree
Seasonality: deciduous or semi-deciduous
Size: 15-20ft tall with equal spread; weed-like growth rate
Leaves: bipinnately compound with prominent (needle-like) midrib, 6-9in long; leaflets on midrib may or may not be present
Flowers: showy yellow flowers, throat has orange-reddish color; sporadic bloom period

Parkinsonia aculeata

Fruit: tan pod with papery sheath, 2-4in long or greater, constricted between seed, end tapers to point
Stems/Trunks: thorns on young growth, green trunk becomes gray and woody with age
Range/Origin: West Indies and South America; naturalized throughout southern U.S.
Hardiness: to 18°F or lower

LANDSCAPE VALUE:

• attractive, graceful form
• residential scale
• light filtered shade
• naturalizes aggressively; is considered a noxious weed
• fast growth rate, short lived

leafless midribs on Parkinsonia aculeata

CULTURAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Exposure: full sun, reflected heat
• Water: natural rainfall; if supplemented should be infrequent and deep
• Soil: adaptable
• Propagation: seed, easy
• Maintenance: moderate; litter of midrib and pod drop; shed midribs can cause thatch buildup; removal of volunteer seedlings; training to desired form when young

NOTES:

least desirable of the Palo verde type trees

return to common name index				return to Botanical name index
	browse by common name				browse by botanical name

This page was first created August 24, 2001 and last modified March 16, 2006.

---

Web page design and photographs by Toni Moore, Master Gardener
email to: tmoore1@flash.net

© 2001 - 2006 Arizona Board of Regents. All contents copyrighted. All rights reserved.