Mexican Palo Verde
Family Fabaceae
Parkinsonia aculeate
Designation/Status
Arizona Noxious Weed List - Not Listed
Federal Noxious Weed List – Not Listed
Origins
Mexico, however, it is gradually becoming naturalized in
Arizona.
Plant
Characteristics
Life Cycle: Blooms occur from April to May
Visual Appearance: Growth up to 40
feet in height and 1 foot in diameter. Bark is yellowish green,
smooth, scaly at base, and brown when larger. Flowers are golden
yellow, 5-petaled, with the largest orange or yellow with orange
spots, obtaining a size of 1 inch wide, in cluster up to 7 inches
long, followed by dark brown pod narrowing between seeds. Leaves
are bright green, twice pinnately compound up to 20 inches long
with up to 30 pairs of leaflets, each up to 3/16 inch long. Leaves fall off during drought or cold conditions. Easily
recognizable by its branches of long streamers and spines on
branches in groups of three.
Habitat
Desert valleys up to 4500 feet
Control Measures
Mechanical and Cultural: mowing or brush cutting when young, hand cut at maturity. An
application of Tebuthiuron or Triclopyr will be necessary as the
trees will re-sprout from roots.
Biological: None
Chemical: Systemic herbicides will kill tree slowly. Chemicals include:
Tebuthiuron and Hexazinone.
Other Points of interest
Foliage and seeds are eaten by
wildlife. Flowers are a favorite of bees.
|
