Acacia greggii     
Cat claw acacia   
Fabaceae Family     

Form: large shrub or gnarled small tree; multistemmed
Seasonality: deciduous
Size: 10-15ft, spread to 25ft
Leaves: bipinnately compound, 1-3in long, gray-green
Flowers: yellow oblong puff (like chimney sweep brush), sometimes cream colored; bloom in early summer; strongly scented
Fruit: typical legume pod, flat 1-3in long, 1/2in wide, reddish or brown, curls when dry
Stems/Trunks: attractive gray shaggy/rough trunk; stems have small curved thorns
Range/Origin: SW US and northern Mexico
Hardiness: to 0°F

LANDSCAPE VALUE:

• small residential tree
• interesting character
• keep away from foot traffic
• revegetation of disturbed areas

CULTURAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Exposure: full sun
• Water: natural rainfall once established; encourage faster growth with irrigation
• Soil: tolerant
• Propagation: seed, requires scarification
• Maintenance: minimal; pod cleanup; occasional pruning to improve form

NOTES:

Acacia greggii

naturally multistemmed, sometimes trained in nurseries to single stem

foliage is sparser, leaves are smaller, and more off-green than Acacia smallii

wood is very dense, makes an excellent slow-burning heat for barbecues

return to common name index				return to Botanical name index
	browse by common name				browse by botanical name

This page was first created July 6, 2001 and last modified May 15, 2004.

---

Web page design and photographs by Toni Moore, Master Gardener
email to: tmoore1@flash.net

© 2004 Arizona Board of Regents. All contents copyrighted. All rights reserved.