Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_00.gif)
Thursday - March 15, 2012
From: Amargosa Valley, NV
Region: Rocky Mountain
Topic: Trees
Title: Lifespan of Screwbean mesquite from Amargosa Valley NV
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I see the lifespan of the honey mesquite but not the screwbean (especially in the southern Nevada area - Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge area). What is their normal lifespan?ANSWER:
We looked at our webpages at all three species of the genus Prosopsis that had "honey mesquite" as one of its common names: Prosopis glandulosa (Honey mesquite), Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa (Honey mesquite), and Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana (Western honey mesquite). None of those pages mentioned a lifespan of those plants, nor did the page on Prosopis pubescens (Screwbean mesquite), so you obiously found the information somewhere else.
Amargosa Valley, in Nye County, is one of the two counties in Nevada shown on this USDA Plant Profile map as having the screwbean growing natively. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower and Mr. Smarty Plants are committed to the growth, protection and propagation of plants native not only to North America but to the area in which those plants grow natively. Native plants are adapted to rainfall, soils and climate and will have better success in the environment.
Since we didn't have the information you were looking for on our website, we went looking on the Internet. You say you know the lifespan of Honey Mesquite, and since they are closely related, both in the genus Prosopsis, we are betting the lifespans would be equal or close to the same.
From the Image Gallery
More Trees Questions
Shrub that will grow outside in Zone 5 from Millbrook NY
April 21, 2012 - Is there any shrub, tree or other sort of plant that will grow well in zone 5 in a very large container outdoors?
view the full question and answer
Trees to hide telephone poles and wires
September 28, 2009 - I am looking for trees to plant between my house and the street to hide telephone poles and wires. My top priority is to add strong, gold color in the fall. Spring flowers would be a plus. Because ...
view the full question and answer
Dog-safe Privacy Screen for Ocala, FL
June 25, 2015 - Am desperately searching for fast growing privacy that would be non toxic to dogs in Ocala, Florida (zone 9 I think). Wanted Leland cypress but due to toxicity it won't work.
view the full question and answer
Screen Tree for Lockhart, TX.
March 30, 2015 - What is a good screening tree for a ranch in the Lockhart area that won't get much water.
view the full question and answer
Blocking dust from a road in Sturgis MS
September 20, 2012 - Please let me know what Trees/shrubs will help block dust from dirt road.
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |