A widely promoted low water use landscape tree that threatens
riparian areas by diverting channel flow, thus enhancing the
potential for streambank erosion, and it can displace mesquites.
Besides producing abundant seeds, it also spreads by suckers and
competes with native plants for water.
Sugar sumacRhus
ovata
A deep evergreen shrub with
dense foliage and a rounded shape, growing up to 15
ft tall. Red buds open into clusters of pinkish
flowers in the spring. To reduce drought stress,
provide supplemental water, and shade during the
summer.
Also consider Rhus
choriophylla.
Velvet mesquite
Prosopis velutina
A popular drought-tolerant
Sonoran Desert native deciduous tree that provides
shade during the hottest part of the year. Velvet
mesquites can reach up to 30 ft tall with a wide
canopy. Fuzzy yellow flowers adorn the tree during
the spring. Many desert animals use this tree for
habitat and food. The pods provide excellent
fiber and nutrition and can be ground into a sweet,
healthy flour.
Although native mesquites are thorny when young, the
thorns of mature trees are small. Avoid South
American mesquite varieties, they have even larger
thorns and tend to blow over due to their shallow
roots.
