Parkinsonia florida

Common Names

Blue Palo Verde, Blue Paloverde, Blue Palo-Verde, Palo Verde, Blue Palo Verde Tree

Summary

Blue Palo Verde is a native spiny, drought-deciduous tree of the Sonoran Desert, distributed in the U.S. Southwest and northwestern Mexico. It grows as a small to mid-sized tree or large shrub with a spreading crown and smooth blue-green bark that photosynthesizes; leaves are tiny, pinnate with 2–4 leaflets and often absent for long dry spells; bright yellow pea-like flowers appear in spring, followed by flat seed pods; short spines occur at leaf nodes, giving a distinctive silhouette.

Culture and uses: grows best in full sun with well-drained soils; drought-tolerant once established; USDA hardiness zones 8–11; after establishment, deep infrequent irrigation; prune after flowering to maintain form; propagation by seed; commonly used as an ornamental in xeriscapes and wildlife gardens, providing shade and attracting bees and hummingbirds; watch for palo verde root borers.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

20-39 ft

Spread

20-35 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 8–11

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun (8–9+ hours daily), tolerates partial shade

Soil Type

Well-drained soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

5.5-9, Acidic to alkaline

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

No fall foliage

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Moderate

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Air layering

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, other pollinators, and birds