Prosopis Species, Honey Mesquite
Prosopis juliflora
Family: | Fabaceae (fab-AY-see-ee) (Info) |
Genus: | Prosopis (PROS-oh-pis) (Info) |
Species: | juliflora (joo-lih-FLOR-uh) (Info) |
Synonym: | Acacia juliflora |
Synonym: | Algarobia juliflora |
Synonym: | Mimosa juliflora |
Synonym: | Neltuma juliflora |
Synonym: | Prosopis domingensis |
Category:
Trees
Water Requirements:
Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Foliage:
Deciduous
Foliage Color:
Height:
30-40 ft. (9-12 m)
Spacing:
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Where to Grow:
Danger:
Plant has spines or sharp edges; use extreme caution when handling
Bloom Color:
Pale Yellow
Bloom Characteristics:
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
Mid Summer
Late Summer/Early Fall
Other details:
May be a noxious weed or invasive
Soil pH requirements:
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
From seed; direct sow after last frost
Seed Collecting:
Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds
Properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Goodyear, Arizona
Barstow, California
Fallbrook, California(5 reports)
Arlington, Texas
Brownsville, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Lampasas, Texas
Mcallen, Texas(2 reports)
Midland, Texas
Mission, Texas
San Angelo, Texas
San Antonio, Texas(2 reports)
Triel-sur-Seine, ÃŽle-de-France
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
---|---|
Neutral | On Mar 9, 2012, fishingdude from San Angelo, TX (Zone 7b) wrote: This tree is very invasive in West Texas. It doesn't get that tall and I hear they drink a lot of water. An ugly tree, especially in the winter months. Very hard to kill. You can cut it to the ground and it will grow back vigorously with multitrunks. They can be pruned to look more tree like, but unpruned mesquite trees are very bushy. They are prone to getting dead branches. I have a lot of these trees on my property, and it's not uncommon to step on a mesquite thorn and it go through the shoe into the foot. |
Neutral | On Feb 23, 2011, Blackfeather from Palm Desert, CA wrote: Someone erroneously stated Honey Mesquite as the most abundant plant in the desert of the southwest. |
Positive | On Oct 23, 2003, htop from San Antonio, TX (Zone 8b) wrote: The most common shrub or small tree of the Desert Southwest, mesquite restores nitrogen to the soil. The bean pods can lie dormant for forty years and can be viable. The bean pods have been used by wildlife (especially deer), livestock and humans as a source of food. Believe it or not in late summer, it is estimated that over 75% of a coyote's diet is comprised of mesquite beans. |
Positive | On Aug 2, 2003, Bairie from Corpus Christi, TX (Zone 10a) wrote: It's a wonderful tree, not a native, but it's been such a part of my life, it wouldn't be south Texas without it. It does make a mess in a yard, and you better not go barefoot under it. It is drought-resistant. In spring when the new leaves come out, it looks like a mound of lime green feathers! |
Neutral | On Aug 1, 2003, KactusKathi from Goodyear, AZ (Zone 9a) wrote: Indians in the Southwest ground the seed pods into flour for baking. Has a sweet taste. Wonderfully drought tolerant tree. |
Neutral | On Jun 7, 2003, Chamma from Tennille, GA (Zone 8b) wrote: Salt-tolerant tree native to the southwest U.S. This is a wide spreading, drooping ree with an umbrella-shape to it. It needs pruning to train as a standard shade tree. It is a fast grower. The stems are thorny. The wood is renowned as a charcoal for flavoring bar-b-que meats! |