Botanical name: Parkinsonia aculeata This spiny tree may have single or multiple stems, and can be maintained as a large shrub; deciduous in dry weather; fragrant yellow flowers with orange blotches in spring and fall; a lovely landscape accent for drier climate areas. Hardiness zone - 8a Flower color - yellow Foliage type - deciduous Plant form - upright spreading Mature height - 30 feet Spread - 30 feet Light requirements - full sun to partial shade Moisture requirements - dry to average Plant origin - North American native Ornamental Features Mexican Palo Verde features showy clusters of fragrant yellow pea-like flowers with a orange blotch at the ends of the branches from mid spring to mid fall. It has attractive green foliage throughout the season. The tiny oval compound leaves are highly ornamental but do not develop any appreciable fall color. The fruits are showy brown pods displayed in late fall. The fruit can be messy if allowed to drop on the lawn or walkways, and may require occasional clean-up. Landscape Attributes Mexican Palo Verde is a multi-stemmed deciduous tree with an upright spreading habit of growth. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which can make it a great accent feature on this basis alone. This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting birds, bees and butterflies to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration; Spiny Mexican Palo Verde is recommended for the following landscape applications; Accent, Shade, Hedges/Screening, Container Planting