Accession Count: 0
Common Name:
palo de asta
Family Name:
Boraginaceae
Botanical Name:
Cordia sonorae
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
Palo de Asta is a deciduous shrub or small tree which has wide, elliptic, medium green leaves. The leaves are three quarters of an inch long, and three eighths of an inch wide. The dark grey bark of Cordia sonorae can either be smooth, or slightly fissured. It has an open crown. Blooms make a showy display when C. sonorae is leafless.
Compound:
Cor son
Geographic Origin:
Sonora, Mexico
Ecozone Origin:
Nearctic
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
C. sonorae originates from Sonora, Mexico, it has now traveled all the way down the South American west coast to Jalisco, Mexico(2).
Cultivation Notes:
C. sonorae can be grown in fully sunny, or partially shady locations. It is a tender plant, so any temperatures below 32°F could be damaging. Local experts recommend Cordia boissieri as a hardier alternative for the climate in the Tucson basin area.
Ethnobotany:
C. sonorae is used by people in modern day in landscaping as an accent(1).
Height:
16 - 20 feet
Width:
6 - 10 feet
Growth Rate:
Moderate Growing
Grow Season:
Flower Season:
Spring
Color:
White
Function:
Accent
Spread:
Non-spreading
Allergen:
Non-allergenic
Invasive:
Benign
Toxicity:
Benign
Hardy:
Tender
Water Use:
Moderate Water Use
Citations:
- Turner, Raymond M, et al. Sonoran Desert Plants: An Ecological Atlas. University of Arizona Press, 1995.
- swbiodiversity.org
