Honey Mesquite

(Prosopis glandulosa)

Honey Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa)

Don A.W. Carlson

CC BY 2.5

Image By: Don A.W. Carlson

Recorded By:

Copyright Notice: Photo by: Don A.W. Carlson | License Type: CC BY 2.5 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5 | Uploader: Photohound | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: Prosopis-glandulosa-foliage.JPG | Notes: =={{int:filedesc}}== {{Information |description={{en|1=''Prostanthera magnifica'' (cultivated, labelled), Maranao Gardens, Balwyn, Victoria, Australia}} |date=2 November 2010 |source={{own}} |author=[[:en:User:Melburnian|Melburnian]] |permission= |other_v |

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Prosopis glandulosa, commonly known as Honey Mesquite, is a deciduous shrub or small tree native to arid and semi-arid regions such as grasslands, deserts, and scrublands in the South Central and Southwestern USA and Northern Mexico. It typically grows to 20–30 ft (6.1–9.1 m) in height with a similar spread and has a medium growth rate. Honey Mesquite is characterized by its rounded, big, and floppy, drooping branches with feathery, bipinnate foliage and straight, paired spines on the twigs. The bark is rough and becomes deeply furrowed with age. Its pale yellow flowers are borne in elongated spikes from March to November, followed by straight, yellow seedpods that are a food source for wildlife.

Honey Mesquite is valued for its hardiness, adaptability to poor soils, and its ability to fix nitrogen, thus improving soil fertility. It is often used in xeriscaping, as a windbreak, or for erosion control due to its extensive root system. The wood is used for furniture, flooring, and barbecue smoking. It requires full sun, tolerates low water conditions, and thrives in soils with medium drainage. However, its aggressive root system can interfere with nearby structures and its thorns can be problematic in high-traffic areas. It is considered invasive outside its native range, so caution is advised when planting in non-native areas.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Shrub, Tree
Height: 25-35 feet
Width: 25-35 feet
Growth Rate: Rapid
Flower Color: Yellow
Flowering Season: Spring, Summer
Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun
Water: Low
Drainage: Medium

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., Fire Resistant, Fragrant, Low Maintenance, Rock Garden, Salt Tolerant, Showy Flowers, Street Planting

Natural Habitat

Native to arid and semi-arid regions such as grasslands, deserts, and scrublands

Other Names

Common Names: Mesquite , Algaroba , Mesquite-Busch , Texas Mesquite

Scientific Names: Prosopis glandulosa , Algarobia glandulosa , Prosopis juliflora var. glandulosa , Prosopis chilensis var. glandulosa , Neltuma glandulosa , Dasiogyna glandulosa

GBIF Accepted Name: Prosopis glandulosa Torr.