Olneya tesota – Desert Ironwood –

Description

Olneya – Desert Ironwood – There is a sole species of small deciduous or evergreen tree in this genus. It occurs in washes in desert areas of Southwestern North America. It is grown for its pinnate leaves with small leaflets and short sprays of tiny, pinkish pea like flowers. Grow in a wild garden. Grow in any moderately fertile, very well drained soil in full sun. Cannot with stand extended freezes. Good choice for arid gardens. O. tesota – This tough, slow growing, erect evergreen tree from California, Arizona and Northwestern Mexico grows 25-30′ feet tall and wide. From spreading branches it carries alternate, pinnate leaves, with 8-24 oblong-wedge shaped, gray green leaflets, 3/4″ long, 2 spined at the bases. In early summer, pinkish lavender flowers, ½” long are held in axillary racemes, followed by thick walled, mid green seed pods, 2″ long, with black seeds. Old leaves drop shortly after flowering, but are quickly replaced with a crop. Possesses extremely hard, heavy heartwood. Deciduous in hard frost. Zones 9-10