Desert Museum Palo Verde
Parkinsonia x 'Desert Museum' · Deciduous/Semi-evergreen broadleaf hardwood
Plant Family
Fabaceae
Tree Category
Ornamental / Flowering / Shade Tree
Variety / Cultivar
'Desert Museum' (a hybrid of P. aculeata, P. microphylla, and P. floridum)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 8-11; heat-loving and tolerates temperatures down to 15 degrees Fahrenheit.
About This Tree
A fast-growing, multi-trunked or single-stemmed hybrid tree with a spreading, airy canopy. Known for its distinct green bark and vibrant yellow flowers. Unlike its parent species, this cultivar is thornless with larger flowers and a cleaner growth habit.
Leaf Characteristics
Bipinnately compound with very small, numerous leaflets (pinnules) on a long rachis; mid-green to lime-green color; alternate arrangement; leaves are often sparse to minimize water loss.
Bark Characteristics
Distinctive smooth, lime-green bark on the trunk and branches that remains green even as the tree matures, allowing for photosynthesis through the bark.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico (Sonoran Desert)
Growing Season
Leafs out in spring; heavy flowering in spring (March to May) with occasional re-bloom; remains active in summer; drought-deciduous in winter or extreme heat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun (6+ hours); very low water once established; highly drought-tolerant; requires well-draining soil to prevent root rot.
Mature Size
Reaches 20 to 30 feet in height and 20 to 30 feet in spread; fast growth rate especially when young; lifespan of 30 to 50 years.
Special Characteristics
Thornless hybrid; exceptionally long and prolific yellow blooming period; bark remains green for photosynthesis; highly resistant to Palo Verde Root Borer compared to common species; very low maintenance.
Wildlife & Ecology
Attracts numerous pollinators including honeybees and native solitary bees; provides nesting sites for desert birds; seeds (if produced, though this hybrid is lowly fertile) can provide food for small mammals.