| Common Name |
Mexican palo verde, Jerusalem thorn |
| Latin Name |
Parkinnsonia aculeata, previously Cercidium aculeata |
| Family |
Fabaceae |
| Sunset zone / USDA zone |
8-29 / 8-11 |
| Type / Form |
Tree / Medium |
| Native Habitat |
Mexico |
| Soil |
Dry to moist, decomposed granite, sand, clay loam, low
organic content |
| Exposure |
Full sun or filtered shade, plant south of wind break or
building to protect from cold Santa Ana winds |
| Water |
Once per month in clay soil to once a week in sand
during hot months |
| Height X Width / Growth rate |
Maximum 15 feet X 25 feet, usual 12 feet X 15 feet /
Moderate |
| Protective Mechanism |
Spines |
| Leaves |
Drought and cold deciduous, temporary bi-pinnate, green |
| Flowers |
5 petaled yellow flowers with red or brown pistils bloom two weeks in April, May,
or June, fragrant, cold marginal |
| Bark / Roots |
Barks scarred and grey brown / Deep roots |
| Maintenance |
Messy, emits considerable litter but needs it to store
ground water, do not prune at above 70 degrees |
| Propagation |
Seed |
| Pests and Diseases |
Wood borers, witches broom, and mistletoe |
| Landscape Uses |
Erosion control, rock garden, low maintenance,
background, specimen |
| Garden Suitability |
Fragrant, Songbird, Ethnobotanical |
| Nature Value |
Flowers attract bees and butterflies,
seeds eaten by birds and other wildlife |
| Native American Uses |
Beans ground into pinole, drink made from pods with
beans |
| Comments |
Short lived 20 to 40 years |
| Links |
|
| Images and data |
http://www.delange.org/PaloVerdeMexican/PaloVerdeMexican.htm |
| Images and data |
http://desertwaterwisegardens.suite101.com/article.cfm/mexican_palo_verde_tree |
| Images and data |
http://ag.arizona.edu/pima/gardening/aridplants/Parkinsonia_aculeata.html |
| Images and data |
http://www.fireflyforest.com/flowers/1833/parkinsonia-aculeata-jerusalem-thorn/ |
| Images and data |
http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/paac3.htm |
| Images and data |
http://www.floridata.com/ref/p/park_acu.cfm |
| Images and data |
http://www.arizonensis.org/sonoran/fieldguide/plantae/parkinsonia_aculeata.html |
| Images and data |
http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Fabaceae/Parkinsonia_aculeata.html |
| Images and data |
http://www.backyardgardener.com/plantname/pda_05e9.html |
| Images and data |
http://tucsoncitizen.com/wryheat/2010/04/12/palo-verde-trees-will-turn-the-desert-golden/ |
| Images and data |
http://www.desertmuseumdigitallibrary.org/public/detail.php?id=ASDM08478&sp=Parkinsonia%20aculeata |
| Images and data |
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkinsonia_aculeata |
| Images and data |
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/naturalResources/Invasive-Weeds/weeds/iw_mexican_palo_verde.shtml |
| Images and data |
http://www.anniesannuals.com/signs/p%20-%20r/parkinsonia_aculeata.htm |
| Images and data |
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/97539/ |
| Images and data |
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=paac3 |
| Images and data |
http://www.californiagardens.com/Plant_Pages/parkinsonia_aculeata.htm |
| Nursery, images, and data |
http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=1195 |
| Nursery |
| Oak Hills Nursery, 13874 Ranchero Road, Oak
Hills, 92345, 760-947-6261 |
|
