Parkinsonia x sonorae

Common Name: palo brea

Family Name: Fabaceae

Botanical Name: Parkinsonia x sonorae

Synonyms:

Botanical Synonyms: Cercidium x sonorae

Sub Species:

Variety:

Forma:

Cultivar:

Characteristics: The Sonoran palo verde is a small, deciduous tree with a rounded form and dark blue-green bark. It has a bipinnate leaf arrangement, with one to two pairs of pinnae, and four to six small leaflets attached. During the spring it has an abundance of yellow flowers.

Compound: Par pra

Geographic Origin: Mexican Desert

Ecozone Origin: Nearctic

Biome Origin:

Natural History: The Sonoran palo verde is native to Sonora, Mexico. It results from a cross between Cercidium microphyllum and Cercidium praecox (3). The native range of this hybrid is NW. Mexico. It is a tree and grows primarily in the desert or dry shrubland biome (3).

Cultivation Notes: The Sonoran palo verde is moderately frost tolerant, low maintenance, and easy to train to an attractive tree form. It has a slow to moderate growth rate and uses very little water. Palo estribo trees are semi hardy, but are damaged at temperatures below 25℉. These trees are very suitable for sunny locations.

Ethnobotany: The Sonoran palo verde has landscape value as a small median tree, specimen or flowering accent, privacy screen or buffer, or as a small patio tree.

Height: 16 - 20 feet

Width: 16 - 20 feet

Growth Rate: Slow Growing

Grow Season: Summer

Flower Season: Spring

Color: Yellow

Function:

Spread: Non-spreading

Allergen: Allergenic

Invasive: Benign

Toxicity: Benign

Hardy: Semi-hardy

Water Use: Low water Use

Citations:
1. Jones, Warren D, and Charles M Sacamano. Landscape Plants for Dry Regions: More Than 600 Species from around the World. Fisher Books, 2000.

2. Tropicos.org Retrieved June 15, 2024. https://www.tropicos.org/name/100470850

3. KEW Botanical Garden Retrieved June 15, 2024

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