Prosopis glandulosa
Honey Mesquite
Prosopis glandulosa, honey mesquite, is a small deciduous tree with yellow flowers, thorns, and prominent edible brown legumes. The tree is found in desert habitats and has sweet flowers that attract pollinators.
Thorns. Mesquite needs deep watering to become a tree, but tolerates drought thereafter; may become weedy or invasive.
Fair potential utility as an urban tree based on evaluation of 3 trees, healthy crown, 100% survival, fast growth rate. No signs of pests or diseases found. Juvenile growth has large thorns.
We got decent germination with 1 minute hot water (200*F) soak and greenhouse sowing in November. Seeds germinated over the following 6 months. Seedlings are growing quickly.
Photo by M. Ritter W. Mark, C. Stubler and J. Reimer courtesy of SelecTree