Little Leaf Palo Verde, Foothills Palo Verde, Yellow Palo-Verde
Parkinsonia microphylla
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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 | Yes |
| Size In relative feet, width by height |
15-20 × 15-20 |
| Flowering Season | April-May |
| Flower Color | Yellow |
| Minimum Temperature Range | 15-20 °F |
| Leaf Description | Tiny, on thorntipped stems |
| Fruit | Legume (bean) |
| View on SEINet | View SEINet Entry |
| Range Map | View SEINet Range Map |
| Elevation Range | 500-3500 ft. |
| Description | This tree serves as an indicator species of the Sonoran Desert, and is often a dominant or codominant member of the Sonoran Desert Flora on hillsides, plains and slopes. Many young cacti and shrubs, most notably Saguaros, use this plant as a "nurse tree", a place to establish with less sun exposure and richer soil than open ground. In the spring a shower of yellow blooms lights up hillsides all across the Sonoran Desert, much to the joy of pollinators and plant lovers. The light green bark and architectural form of this species make it a lovely centerpiece for a dry garden. Be sure to plant it somewhere where you will not feel compelled to over-prune, since this tree shines when its natural shape is allowed to develop. Surround this planting with tough shrubs such as fairy duster (Calliandra eriophylla), chuparosa (Justicia californica), and bursage (Ambrosia spp.), as well as cacti like saguaro (Carnegia gigantea), cholla (Cylindropuntia spp.), and hedgehog cacti (Echinocereus spp.). This tree grows best in well draining soils, and likes slopes. For heavier clays or bottomlands consider using its close relative blue palo verde. |
