Coyotes, and other desert animals eat the bean pods regularly. This tree is a good shade tree. During the inevitable droughts and deprivations of desert frontier days, the mesquite trees served up the primary food source for caravans and settlers. Prosopis velutina, commonly known as velvet mesquite, is a small to medium-sized perennial tree. Mesquite beans became manna from heaven. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. The second most common mesquite tree in the U.S., the velvet mesquite, can grow as tall as the honey mesquite and is generally the larger of the two trees, with a trunk around 24 inches in diameter. Mesquite trees and shrubs have become quite invasive in the grasslands of Arizona and the other Southwestern states on slopes and in other areas where there are no flowing streams. Some velvet mesquites produce seed pods with an extra sweet taste while others may produce beans that taste like cardboard. Prosopis velutina – The Arizona mesquite is a native mesquite to Arizona. View all posts by tjsgarden. Remember that this is a desert native. Width: 30 feet. Some provide dense shade and others a more filtered shade. Velvet Mesquite on the other hand does develop a very deep root system if you will encourage it with good soil preparation and deep, infrequent waterings. They grow from 8 - 20m high and bear pod-like fruits. FEIS ABBREVIATION: PROPUB SYNONYMS: None NRCS PLANT CODE [102]: PRPU COMMON NAMES: screwb… The shade from these native Arizona trees create a 10-15 degree cooler temperature! Don't forget your sunscreen! Has Deciduous foliage. I would place it in a low traffic area. If you have questions, you can reach one of our Master Gardener volunteers every day except Saturday and Sunday between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. by calling the Master Gardener hotline at (520) 374-6263. You’ll find it growing wild near washes – be careful if you go near as it can have thorns up to three inches long. Most mesquites are relatively free from major pest problems. Mesquite Honey. Join our travels through Arizona's Sonora Desert. You have permission to edit this article. In normal rainfall years, that may be true. That is where the palo verde trees grow. Workability: Working properties are largely dictated by the quality of the wood itself. TEXAS MESQUITE, MAVERICK HONEY MESQUITE. Make your Mesquite trees “seek out” water and nutrients by careful arrangement of your irrigation emitters and scheduled DEEP irrigation. glandulosa) and sometimes hybridizes with it and P. velutine (velvet mesquite). ( Log Out / Let’s take a look at these different types of mesquite, how they stack up as landscape plants and the uses for which they are best suited. I’ve learned NOT to wear flip-flops when walking around our Honey Mesquite! If you wish to add visual interest to the landscape of any property, you … Proper staking and proper watering can help you avoid wind damage with your mesquite trees. Fragrant Yellow. Typically, the legumes, which have woody stems and branches, produce bipinnately compound leaves (leaves with two or more secondary veins, each with two rows of leaflets). It is the Mesquite! The two principle species found in the southwestern U.S., honey mesquite (P. glandulosa) and velvet mesquite (P. velutina), occur in a variety of growth forms, ranging from decumbent shrubs to 25 ft. tall trees. There are 3 common species of NATIVE mesquite trees: Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens ), Honey Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), and Velvet Mesquite (Prosopis velutina). long and edible. Second and fourth Wednesday of the month! At 4,000 feet elevation then, a normal rainfall year would yield about 15 to 20 inches of rain. torreyana. Newly planted velvet mesquite trees may require extensive staking until established, especially if … Velvet Mesquites hold the record for deepest root (160′); these tap-roots can tap into deep, underground water supplies that aren’t available to the average plant. Quick view Compare Add to Cart. Just so we are clear, mesquite trees and shrubs are not really low, low water-use trees and shrubs. Glues, turns, and finishes well. Pomegranate is #1 in our TOP 10 Heat Resistant Plants! Deciduous (loses leaves in winter) Native to southwestern North America. There was an error processing your request. Honey mesquite is popular in the nursery trade as it becomes an attractive, almost stately, tree. If you look carefully at the mesquites growing in town, you can tell which ones are getting enough water and which ones are short. I’m wondering if there is a way to prevent the new sprouts from developing on the branches? They bear flowers that have five petals, then produce abundant large seedpod… Its flower is a favorite of bees. Some mesquites may live for more than two centuries; according to U. S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. The dead, diseased, broken or weak branches, drain the Mesquite tree’s energy. I intend to keep them but will keep them trimmed for a more aesthetic appearance. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. It is a smaller tree than the Velvet Mesquite. Some types are thornless. It is named screwbean because the seed pod is a tightly wrapped spiral. With larger leaflets, it tends to be a more showy plant and many think the leaves look more fernlike than the other mesquites. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. The narrow leaves are pointed and are 2 to 3 inches long. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. Would you agree? It is also called the velvet mesquite… Kathy recognized our mystery seeds from last week were from a mesquite tree, Prosopis sp.. Several types of mesquite trees grow in Arizona. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Pomegranate is One of the Healthiest Fruits On Our Planet. They give good shade, and some people even use their seed pods for food. Growth rate is slow to moderate but moderate to rapid under irrigation. Western Mesquite, Western Honey Mesquite, Torrey Mesquite Prosopis glandulosa var. Mesquites are also highly susceptible to mistletoe invasion. Velvet mesquite tree tolerates almost any soil type from well-drained, fertile soil to rocky, native soil. Native Mesquite (Velvet Mesquite) (Prosopis julifora var. Chilean Mesquite (Prosopis chilensis) 30 ft. high and wide. It is the most widespread mesquite across the Trans-Pecos. If a single trunk is cut down the Honey Mesquite will replace it with a multiple trunk version. Has Deciduous foliage. Receive a link to the newest Casa Grande Dispatch e-edition in your inbox each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday! Mesquite Honey. Its size is smaller, 20 to 30 feet in height and spread, with short, tightly packed leaflets which tend to make it a good shade tree. They range from a few feet to 10 to 15 feet in height, although the Honey and Velvet Mesquites may reach 30 to 60 feet in especially favorable settings. For example, if the tree is expected to grow to 20 feet in width, select a site that is about 10 feet from a sensitive area. Historic records have indicated that almost every part of the mesquite tree has a use. This arrangement gives it its descriptive name. Chilean Mesquite Trees. Mesquite trees need a full day’s worth of direct sun light to grow. The velvet mesquite is the largest of the mesquite species. If so, where could I get some seeds that are ready for planting? Mesquite is a common name for several plants in the genus Prosopis, which contains over 40 species of small leguminous trees. I find the black mesquite, P. nigra, particularly interesting. velutina) The velvet mesquite tree is native to Arizona (unlike the Chilean and Argentine varieties) and grows about 25 feet tall and 35 feet wide. The shortcoming of a Chilean or Honey Mesquite tree is wind damage. It is a low-branched, broad spreading thorny shrub or small tree with a well-developed crown. There are 3 common species of NATIVE mesquite trees: Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens), Honey Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), and Velvet Mesquite (Prosopis velutina). Height: 30 feet. Thorny vs. Thornless. ( Log Out / The growth rate is medium. To reach the larger size, it will need to have extra water. Width: 25 - 35 feet. Velvet Mesquite (Prosopis velutina) $3.50. 7) when grown with adequate water and in deep soils. Mesquite trees have lateral roots that extend far beyond the canopies of the plants and tap-roots that penetrate well below the surface of the soil. Once your velvet mesquite tree has matured, it can survive with a little supplemental water in addition to natural rain. There are three common species of mesquite; the honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), screwbean mesquite (Prosopis pubescens), and velvet mesquite. The velvet mesquite can grow up to 30 feet tall and as wide. Needing more water, the mesquites are down by the streams. They are versatile. Yellow. Western mesquite grows in the same type of terrain and soil as does mesquite (var. With all of that said, mesquite trees can play a major role in any desert landscape. I am at 16.5 N latitude & in this part of Thailand it is dry from November to usually June or July. 2005. In case of droughts, do water your mesquite trees more often. How to Grow a Velvet Mesquite Tree. The branches of both "Maverick" and honey mesquite trees droop as the tree grows, and may require pruning if planted where vehicle or pedestrian traffic is an issue. The native mesquite is familiar to many of us because it is so common, not only in its native environment, but also in urban areas. The seeds of mesquite trees need to be scarified (abraded in flash flood or digestive tract) to germinate. Tree Characteristics. In the low desert, mesquite trees are mainly found along rivers and streams where they form dense stands. Wild mesquite trees fill the horizon of these arid desert plains. The Pima Indians of southern Arizona referred to the mesquite as the TREE OF LIFE. The foliage is feathery and straight – paired with sharp spines on twigs. $9.00. I have seen them do well in Pinal County. Go figure. It is because of the extra rainfall that mesquites can survive away from streams. the Honey Mesquite, the Velvet Mesquite and the Screwbean Mesquite, share various characteristics. We are a family that loves the Arizona Desert. If you really want a mesquite in your yard, the several different types of mesquite will allow you to choose one to match the conditions of your yard, and your desires. I live in Thailand & would like to grow mesquite here for the wood for my BBQ & smoker. The other mesquite that is relatively common in the southeastern part of our state is the tornillo or screwbean mesquite, P. pubescens. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). It will remain smaller and more of a shrub when given less water or grown in difficult soils. Flowers Inconspicuous. Like many members of the Legume Family, mesquite trees restore nitrogen to the soil. It is a Spanish adaptation of the Aztec word mizquitl, which means leguminous tree.The pods and fruit of the tree are used in many food items, while the tap roots are used for fuel and household items. There are two varieties of this plant; one that is native to Texas and one that is normally found further west. I have several native mesquite trees on my property. These trees are not located up on the slopes in the low deserts. Leguminosae. Prosopis glandulosa, or honey mesquite, is a flowering, deciduous tree native to the southwestern United States and Mexico.It is named for its sweet, honey-producing flowers. 2. Let’s take a brief look at each one, just to know our options. Error! Velvet mesquite is Figure 7: Prosopis velutina in winter (above) and spring (below) Mesquite that is clear and free from defects is easy to work with hand and machine tools, but irregular grain or knots can be challenging. Medical studies of mesquite trees and other desert foods, said that despite its sweetness, mesquite flour (made by grinding whole pods) is extremely effective in controlling blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. This honey crystalizes more quickly than perhaps any other, at times seeming to crystalize virtually overnight. A variety of animals eat the seeds such as quail, dear, javelina, coyotes, squirrels and rats. Sort By: Quick view Compare Add to Cart. If you are looking for specific characteristics in the mesquite of your choice, just be aware that seed-grown trees may not be exactly like their parent. Honey Mesquites are more rounded with big, floppy, drooping branches. Leaves Bipinnately Compound, Green, No Change, Deciduous.