Description

The blue palo verde is native to California’s deserts, the South West and northern Mexico. It begins life as a multi-trunk round shrub and develops into a multi-trunk or single trunk tree. The stems are waxy green with a potent complement of sharp spines. The mature bark is a furrowed silvery-gray. The leaves are small ovals which are shed in times of severe (desert) drought. The yellow spring flowers are exuberant and plentiful, attracting the attention of numerous pollinators. The seed pods are large and curved - typical of many plants in the pea family. This is one of the parents of the increasingly popular hybrid ‘Desert Museum,’ which is thornless. Like the hybrid, blue palo verde seems to do well in a variety of settings outside its desert home. Of course, a dry setting is recommended after the plant is established.