Common name:Mexican Palo Verde, Jerusalem Thorn
Botanical name:Parkinsonia aculeata

The Mexican Palo Verde has prickly stems. This tree is very fast growing with sparse foliage and very long narrow leaves. Yellow flowers with orange red throats bloom sporadically. It is very messy, thorny, weedy and short-lived. This tree is usually found on limestone soils in areas with moisture but is strongly drought tolerant. It can withstand saline conditions. It can be cold or drought deciduous. It is beautiful in form being light and airy looking, with green bark.

Common name:Foothills Palo Verde
Botanical name:Cercidium microphyllum

This is a smaller shade tree that reaches heights and widths of 10'-20'. The tree is very drought-tolerant, although supplemental watering during the dry season will speed up growth rate. Trees are leafless for most of the year, except following rains.