Title: Velvet Mesquite Tree - Horticulture Unlimited
Headings: Velvet Mesquite Tree
Velvet Mesquite Tree
Description
Maintenance

Content: Velvet Mesquite Tree - Horticulture Unlimited
Velvet Mesquite Tree
Prosopis velutina
Characteristics
Category
Tree
Size
25' x 35'
Flower Color
Cream to Pale Yellow
Flower Season
Late Spring to Summer
Exposure
Full Sun
Water
Low
Growth Rate
Fast
Hardiness
10°F
Notes: Native to Southern Arizona
Description
Native to Southern Arizona, the velvet mesquite is a low branching, open tree with dark, almost black, shaggy bark. It grows wild along the washes, sometimes forming woods in the foothills surrounding Tucson. The velvet mesquite has gray-green, bi-pinnate leaves that are deciduous in cold weather. Multiple stems have stout thorns that can grow up to 3 inches long. Velvet mesquite tree grows to 25 feet tall with a 35 foot or greater spread. Its asymmetrical shape, multiple trunk and wide spreading crown are not conducive for use in small, space restricted areas. Pale yellow flowers appear in the late spring, clustered together in dense, pendulous spikes. These are followed by 3" to 9" long seedpods that ripen and drop to the ground during the summer. Perfect for low water use xeriscaping, velvet mesquite tree appears in large, open landscapes throughout Southern Arizona.