Prosopis velutina     
Velvet mesquite    
Fabaceae Family     

Form: low-branched, broad spreading tree, sometimes a large shrub
Seasonality: deciduous
Size: to 30ft with equal spread
Leaves: bipinnately compound in pairs (two sets of compound leaves on stem), leaflets 1/3 to 1/2in long; 14-30 pairs of leaflets per leaf; dark green to dusty green, slightly fuzzy texture, short gray hairs

newly-emerged leaf of Prosopis velutina

Flowers: white or pale yellow catkin, 2-3in long, hangs downward; bloom in early summer
Fruit: slender brown pod, 3-9in long 1/2-1/4in wide; edible
Stems/Trunks: twigs are jointy, branches gnarled and twisted
Range/Origin: southwest US and Mexico; characteristics highly variable by region
Hardiness: well below 32°F

LANDSCAPE VALUE:

• of residential scale
• common in commercial landscapes
• attractive food source for wildlife

CULTURAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Exposure: full sun
• Water: infrequent but deep
• Soil: adaptable, best in deep uniform soil; found naturally near washes
• Propagation: seed, requires mechanical scarification; hybridizes readily, especially with non-native mesquites, use isolated populations to ensure desired characteristics
• Maintenance: low; pod cleanup, prune to shape when young

NOTES:

Prosopis velutina

aka Native mesquite, Arizona mesquite

the pod pulp (surrounding seed) is edible
slow growth rate and naturally shrubby, needs training when young to obtain tree form

Easily confused with non-native mesquites
    non-natives lack jointy appearance to twigs and branches,
    non-natives are also more upright or erect

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This page was first created August 2, 2002 and last modified May 16, 2004.

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

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