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Native Plant Database

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Parkinsonia florida (Blue paloverde)
Flaigg, Norman G.

Parkinsonia florida (Benth. ex Gray) S. Wats.

Blue paloverde

Fabaceae (Pea Family)

Synonyms: Cercidium floridum

USDA Symbol: PAFL6

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Spiny, small tree, leafless most of the year, with a short blue-green trunk and widely spreading, very open crown.

Although leaves are absent most of the year, photosynthesis, the manufacture of food, is performed by the blue-green branches and twigs. Native Americans cooked and ate the immature beanlike pods and ground the mature seeds for meal. Twigs and pods of paloverdes serve as browse for wildlife and emergency food for livestock; the seeds are consumed by rodents and birds; and the flowers are a source of honey. This species is useful for erosion control along drainages. The Spanish common name, paloverde, means green tree or green pole.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Fruit:

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , NV
Native Distribution: Central and S. Arizona, SE. California, and NW. Mexico; 4000 (1219 m).
Native Habitat: Along washes and valleys and sometimes on lower slopes of deserts and desert grasslands.
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Find Seed or Plants

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

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Bibliography

Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.
Bibref 995 - Native Landscaping from El Paso to L.A. (2000) Wasowski, S. and A. Wasowski

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-02-20
Research By: TWC Staff

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