Common Name:
desert almond
Family Name:
Rosaceae
Botanical Name:
Prunus fasciculata
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
The plant is a perennial shrub native to the southwestern United States (1). The shrub has a multi-stemmed, thorny growth habit and typically grows to about 6 feet tall, though in favorable conditions it can reach up to 3m (10 ft) (1). Growth is slow, and the shrub has a moderate lifespan (1). The leaves are small, narrow, and fascicled, with a fine texture; they are green and deciduous (1). In early spring, small white flowers appear in the leaf axils, but they are not considered conspicuous (1). By summer, these give rise to brown drupes that mature by late summer into fall and are considered conspicuous when ripe (2).
Compound:
Pru fas
Geographic Origin:
Southwest US
Ecozone Origin:
Neararctic
Biome Origin:
Desert, Arid Shrubland
Natural History:
Prunus fasciculata is a member of the rose family (Rosaceae), which also includes cherries, peaches, and almonds (1). The genus Prunus was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, and the epithet fasciculata refers to the clustered arrangement of its leaves (2). This shrub is native to arid regions of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona, extending south into Baja California (3). It thrives in sandy washes, rocky desert slopes, and chaparral- desert transition zones, often below 900m (3000 ft) in elevation (4). In terms of fire ecology, desert almond is an obligate seeder, this means the plant will not resprout from its vegetative body but will instead reestablish from its seedbank after a fire(2).
Cultivation Notes:
The desert almond can be propagated from seed, cuttings, bare-root stock, or container plants (1). Its seeds require cold stratification and germinate slowly (1). It is hardy to USDA zone 7, withstanding minimum temperatures down to –11.11 C (12°F) (1). The plant performs best in full sun and is intolerant of shade (1). Adapted to coarse and medium soils, it tolerates high calcium carbonate (low pH) soils and thrives with low fertility in areas even where annual precipitation is 0.203-0.508 m(1). While not widely available in the nursery trade, it can be obtained from specialty nurseries and native plant contractors (3).
Ethnobotany:
The desert almond was used by several Indigenous groups of the Southwest. The Cahuilla considered the fruits a delicacy and prepared the drupes for consumption (5). The Mojave ground the seeds into flour and leached them to remove toxic compounds, such as cyanogenic glycosides, before eating (5). The Kawaiisu tribe, Indigenous people of California, used twigs of the desert almond to make the front portions of arrow shafts (5). Despite containing cyanogenic compounds, the plant provided both food and material resources when carefully prepared, making it an important cultural plant in desert environments (2).
Height:
6 - 10 feet
Width:
6 - 10 feet
Growth Rate:
Slow Growing
Grow Season:
Spring
Flower Season:
Spring
Color:
White
Function:
Habitat
Spread:
Non-spreading
Allergen:
Non-allergenic
Invasive:
Benign
Toxicity:
Toxic
Hardy:
Semi-hardy
Water Use:
Low water Use
Citations:
1. USDA Plants
Database – Prunus fasciculata profile, Retrieved September 4, 2025
2. Conrad, C.E. 1987. Common Shrubs
of Chaparral and Associated Ecosystems of Southern California. USDA Forest Service, PSW-GTR-99.
3. Calscape – Prunus fasciculata (Desert Range Almond), Retrieved September 4, 2025
4. U.S. Forest
Service, FEIS – Prunus fasciculata,
Retrieved September 4, 2025
5. Calflora – Prunus fasciculata ethnobotanical notes, Retrieved September 4, 2025
Photo Credits: Don Davis
