Strombocarpa pubescens

Common Names

Screwbean Mesquite, Tornillo, Screw Bean, Screwbean

Summary

Desert Southwest shrub or small tree with a round, spreading crown, reaching roughly 10–30 ft tall and 10–30 ft wide, light brown bark, and short straight spines 1–3 cm; leaves are twice‑compound gray‑green; pale-yellow flowers appear on elongate spikes followed by tightly coiled seedpods, giving the plant its screwbean appearance.

Prefers full sun with well-drained soils, from sandy to gravelly substrates; drought-tolerant and tolerant of dry to alkaline or saline conditions; natural habitat includes creeks, river bottoms, washes, and ravines; propagates by seed with scarification to improve germination; seeds and pods are edible for people and wildlife, and the plant provides nectar for bees and butterflies; commonly used as a barrier plant or to provide light shade, and can form dense thickets along waterways, requiring minimal maintenance once established.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

10-30 ft

Spread

10-15 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 7-10

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained sandy soil.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

6.0-8.0

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Gray-green, Yellow

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Fast

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Layering

Attracts Wildlife

Bees and other pollinators, butterflies, birds