Palo Verde (Parkinsonia aculeata)

Palo Verde

(Parkinsonia aculeata)

Ibrahim Achiri

CC BY-SA 4.0

Image By: Ibrahim Achiri

Recorded By:

Copyright Notice: Photo by: Ibrahim Achiri | License Type: CC BY-SA 4.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 | Uploader: Ibrahim Achiri | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: Parkinsonia_aculeata_plant.jpg | Notes: {{Information |Description ={{en|1=Location taken: The United States National Arboretum, Washington DC. Names: Prunus maackii Rupr., Amur Cherry, Amur Chokecherry, Amur Kirsche, Amur-Traubenkirsche, Ban Ye Chou Li, Cerisier De Mandchourie, Ma... |

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Parkinsonia aculeata, commonly known as Palo Verde, is a semi-deciduous tree or shrub native to the arid regions and desert washes of the Americas and the Caribbean. It typically grows 2 to 8 m (6.6 to 26.2 ft) high and may present as a spiny shrub or a small tree. The plant is characterized by its green bark, which photosynthesizes, and an open, airy crown with sparse foliage. The leaves are small and deciduous during drought to conserve water. The bright yellow-orange flowers are showy and fragrant, 20 mm (0.79 in) in diameter, blooming in clusters from a long slender stalk in the middle months of spring (March–April or September–October), attracting bees for pollination. The fruit is a leathery seedpod, turning light brown when mature.

Palo Verde is valued for its drought tolerance, becoming a shorter shrub in arid conditions and a taller, spreading shade tree in moist, humus-rich environments. It is used in xeriscaping, as an ornamental tree in landscapes, and for reforestation in arid zones due to its ability to fix nitrogen. It thrives in full sun and can grow in a wide range of dry soils, including sand dunes, clay, alkaline, and chalky soils, at altitudes of 0–1,500 meters (0–4,921 ft) above sea level. The plant requires minimal water once established and is well-suited to soils with medium, fast, or slow drainage. However, Parkinsonia aculeata is known to be invasive in some regions outside its native range, so caution is advised when planting it in such areas.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Tree, Shrub
Height: 10-20 feet
Width: 12-15 feet
Growth Rate: Rapid
Flower Color: Yellow
Flowering Season: Spring, Summer
Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun
Water: Low, Medium
Drainage: Fast, Medium, Slow

Common Uses

Bank Stabilization, Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Fragrant, Hummingbird Garden, Low Maintenance, Rock Garden, Salt Tolerant, Showy Flowers

Natural Habitat

Arid regions and desert washes

Other Names

Common Names: Mexican Paloverde , Jerusalem Thorn , Jelly Bean Tree , Horse-Bean , Barbados Flowerfence , Retaima , Jerusalemdorn , Palo De Rayo , Palo Verde Mejicano , Espinillo

Scientific Names: Parkinsonia aculeata , Parkinsonia inermis , Parkinsonia spinosa , Parkinsonia thornberi

GBIF Accepted Name: Parkinsonia aculeata L.