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Parkinsonia aculeata (Retama)
Marcus, Joseph A. (Austin, TX)

Parkinsonia aculeata L.

Retama, Jerusalem thorn, Mexican Palo Verde, Lluvia de Oro

Fabaceae (Pea Family)

USDA Symbol: PAAC3

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Paloverde is a spiny shrub or small tree, as high as 30 feet, with long, graceful, slightly drooping branches bearing many long, delicate leaves and sprays of yellow flowers. The 5 yellow petals of the flower, 1/3–2/3 inch long, are almost equal, but 1 has a honey gland at its base and soon becomes red; it remains on the stalk longer than the others. The paloverde has a profusion of blossoms through the warm months, especially after rains. The seedpods are 3–5 inches long, narrow, and constricted between the seeds. The leaves are unusual. The leaf stem produces 2 stalks, almost parallel and 15–18 inches long, with 10–25 pairs of leaflets on each. The leaflets usually fall off during the summer, and the stems then carry on the function of leaves.

The word Jerusalem does not refer to the Israeli city but is a corruption of the Spanish and Portuguese word girasol, meaning turning toward the sun.

 

From the Image Gallery

View herbarium specimen from Harry T. Cliffe Bexar Regional Herbarium.

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Size Class: 12-36 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AL , AZ , CA , FL , GA , HI , LA , MS , NV , NM , SC , TX , UT
Native Distribution: S. to Trans-Pecos Texas and local in S. Arizona; to 4500 (1372 m). Planted and becoming naturalized across southern border of United States, sometimes as a weed. Widely distributed in tropical America.
Native Habitat: Flood plains, bottomland
USDA Native Status: L48(N), HI(I), PR(N), VI(I)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil Description: Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay, Saline tolerant Caliche type
Conditions Comments: Very fast growing graceful looking tree for poor soils. Drought tolerant. Green Bark and long bloom period. Planting too far north in Texas will subject it to freeze damage. It will grow in a hot, dry, well drained location.
Texas comments: Jerusalem thorn is a very fast growing graceful looking tree for poor soils. It will grow in a hot, dry, well drained location. It is also drought tolerant. Its green bark and long bloom period make it an attractive plant. Planting it too far north in Texas will subject it to freeze damage.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Jerusalem Thorn is a popular, fast-growing tree widely used as an ornamental and hedge plant in warm regions.
Use Wildlife: Nectar-insects, Browse, Seeds-granivorous birds, Seeds-Small mammals, Nesting site, Cover
Use Food: The foliage and pods have been used as emergency forage for livestock, as well as by wildlife. Bees produce fragrant honey from the flowers.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Birds
Nectar Source: yes
Deer Resistant: Moderate

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds
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Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX
Native Plant Society of Texas - Fredericksburg, TX
* Available Online from Wildflower Center Store

Bibliography

Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest (1991) Miller, G. O.
* Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide (1984) Loughmiller, C. & L. Loughmiller
Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender
Trees of Central Texas (1984) Vines, Robert A.
* Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country (1989) Enquist, M.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Parkinsonia aculeata in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Parkinsonia aculeata in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Parkinsonia aculeata

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-04-23
Research By: TWC Staff

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