Prosopis velutina
Velvet mesquite · also Arizona mesquite
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Velvet mesquite is a small to medium-sized, deciduous tree or shrub native to desert climates, notably the Sonoran, Mojave, and Chihuahuan Deserts. It is characterized by feathery, blue-green foliage, prolific yellow flowers, and drought tolerance. This species plays a vital ecological role in its native range and is also noted for its ability to fix soil nitrogen, though its hardiness can lead to invasiveness in non-native arid landscapes.
Where it grows
Trees in each city's inventory, with the share of that city's named trees this species accounts for.
- 1,9707.5%—10 in
- 10.00%——
No city in this list records planting dates for this species, so age is blank throughout.
Traits
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Mature height
- 30–50 ft
- Canopy spread
- 30 ft
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Water needs
- Low
- Drought tolerance
- High
- Wildlife value
- High
- Blooms
- Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug
Trunk diameters across every city: median 10 in, mean 12 in, 90th percentile 22 in. Measured at breast height, as published by each inventory.
Native range
Terrestrial ecoregions where this species is native. Trees in the dataset mostly stand well outside it.
Deserts & Xeric Shrublands
- Chihuahuan desert
- Sonoran desert
Other Prosopis in the catalogue
7 of the top 2,000 species are in this genus.
