Title: Prosopis Mesquite – Plant Of The Month | Water Use It Wisely
Headings: PLANT OF THE MONTH: PROSOPIS MESQUITE
PLANT OF THE MONTH: PROSOPIS MESQUITE
Content: Mesquites have moderate to dark green leaves, rough, dark bark, and a nice sculptural growth habit. They produce yellowish cream colored catkin flowers in the spring, followed by seed pods varying in shape and size. Depending upon the variety, the canopy spreads to a mature width between 20 and 35 feet with an equal height. Mesquites must be encouraged to develop extensive roots in order to maintain stability. This is done by watering judiciously along the perimeter of the canopy and not at the base of the trunk. A ll mesquites blend in well with a garden or natural landscape. Mesquites are most attractive when grown as a multi-trunk tree. Once a mesquite has grown to the desired size, reduce the irrigation to slow future growth. Most mesquites have thorns on immature growth, but thorn production will decrease as the tree matures and growth slows. However, many local nurseries have selected and sell thornless cultivars of both Argentine and Chilean mesquites.