Blue Palo Verde
Parkinsonia florida
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Details & Attributes
| Plant Type(s) | Tree, perennial |
| Native to Arizona | Yes! |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Sun | Full sun |
| Pollinators | Bees, beetles, flies |
| Has Spines | No |
| Size In relative feet, width by height |
25 × 25 |
| Flowering Season | March-April |
| Flower Color | Yellow with red spots |
| Minimum Temperature Range | 10-15 °F |
| Leaf Description | Small, pinnate (having leaflets arranged on either side of the stem) |
| Fruit | Legume (bean) |
| View on SEINet | View SEINet Entry |
| Range Map | View SEINet Range Map |
| Description | Blue palo verde generally grows along wash edges, open flatland, or canyons. It is differentiated from foothills palo verde by its bluish (rather than light green) bark and more upright form. Blue Palo Verde can make a nice, fairly fast growing shade tree. These trees can become extremely dense with age, and look most beautiful with minimal pruning, so plant in an appropriate space where over-pruning will not become necessary. This species is tolerant of a variety of soil types but will perform best with reasonably good drainage. The bloom season begins just before Foothills Palo Verde and planting both trees together in a landscape can stretch the bloom window. This tree is fairly "messy", dropping foliage, flowers, and beans. The best solution is to rake this litter under the plant or into basins to take advantage of its nitrogen richness. These droppings also make a great compost ingredient. It's ideal to utilize these "waste products" on site, rather than exporting nutrients from your yard inside trash bags. |
