Page 36 - Edible Trees For Tucson

Palo Verde Fabaceae

Parkinsonia florida and microphyl-

D ESCRIPTI O N

Palo verde is a small, monoecious native tree
with thin, green photosynthetic bark and
a spreading crown. Palo verde trees have
spiny, irregular branches and small, pinnately
compound leaves. The leaves are bluish-green
in blue palo verde (Parkinsonia florida) and
yellow-green in the shrubbier foothills palo
verde (P. microphylla). The leaves are drought
deciduous, emerging after rainfall, falling during
dry periods. In spring, yellow flowers emerge in
clusters on the branchlets. Blue palo verdes can
have a spectacular golden crown of flowers. The
leguminous pods of both species are 2-3 inches
long with small seeds.
E THN O B O T ANI CAL N O TES
• Palo verde trees are native to the southwestern
U.S. and Mexico.
• Native Americans used the seeds of both
species as a food resource.
• The seeds may be eaten fresh or dried, though
dried seeds must be soaked and cooked.
• Southwest tribes cooked ground seeds into
porridge.

P L ANTIN G N O TES
Palo verde trees grow in a wide variety of habitats,
including slopes, ridges, bajadas, plains and
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