The Velvet Mesquite

If the Velvet Mesquite grows to large for your yard, try the Kidneywood. This small native tree reaches about 15 feet tall and wide, and is suitable for patio plantings or small yards. A slow growing deciduous tree, the Kidneywood at maturity is worth waiting for. Even when small it has vanilla scented summer flowers. The Whitethorn Acacia is a desert native, and usually seen as a shrub in outlying desert areas close to washes. This shrub, however, can mature into an attractive low water use tree given enough water and careful pruning. The yellow puffball flowers are fragrant, and appear in the summer. The mature size is about 15 feet tall and wide.View the list »
The Sweet Acacia is another option for a smaller tree. It matures at about 20 feet tall and wide. The fragrant, yellow puffball flowers appear in late winter, filling the air with a lovely scent. Sweet Acacia, like the mesquite, is quite thorny, so wear sturdy leather gloves when pruning to shape. 

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Arizona’s native mesquite, the Velvet Mesquite, is a cold hardy, heat loving large tree, reaching about 30 feet tall and wide. It can be fast growing when provided plenty of water, but if it starts growing too fast simply cut back. Suitable for landscapes in Tucson and Green Valley, the Velvet Mesquite offers filtered shade and sun in the winter after the leaves drop. This mesquite is often green for 9 months out of the year, have a short dormant period of only about 3 months. In mild winters it may stay green longer.

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When selecting a nursery plant, choose one with multiple trunks for a wider spreading and more sculptural tree. Look for one without roots growing out of the bottom, and that is strong enough to stand up on its own without staking – a practice that is done without regards to whether or not the tree needs staking.

Reference: Mountain States Wholesale Nursery and Gregg Starr Nursery Plant Info Sheet, 1999.

View the list
  • The Sweet Acacia is another option for a smaller tree. It matures at about 20 feet tall and wide. The fragrant, yellow puffball flowers appear in late winter, filling the air with a lovely scent. Sweet Acacia, like the mesquite, is quite thorny, so wear sturdy leather gloves when pruning to shape. 
  • The Whitethorn Acacia is a desert native, and usually seen as a shrub in outlying desert areas close to washes. This shrub, however, can mature into an attractive low water use tree given enough water and careful pruning. The yellow puffball flowers are fragrant, and appear in the summer. The mature size is about 15 feet tall and wide.
  • If the Velvet Mesquite grows to large for your yard, try the Kidneywood. This small native tree reaches about 15 feet tall and wide, and is suitable for patio plantings or small yards. A slow growing deciduous tree, the Kidneywood at maturity is worth waiting for. Even when small it has vanilla scented summer flowers. 
View the list

, Tucson Gardening Examiner

This author has lived in Arizona since 1972 and has been gardening for more than 28 years. A landscape architect and certified arborist, Linda teaches classes for everyone in desert plant care for Green Valley Recreation, and provides services in landscape design. Contact her at Linda...

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