Mesquite Screwbean

Description
Botanical Name: 
Prosopis pubescens

A native to Arizona, Texas, and Mexico.  Common name refers to tightly coiled seed pods. (Tornillo) Small tree or large shrub.  Tree is typically multi-stemmed and the bark is fibrous or stringy.  Very open and spreading habit.  The leaves are smaller than other mesquites and are characterized by one pair of pinnae with 5 to 9 pairs of leaflets per pinna.  Each leaflet is 3/8" to 1" in length.  The small 3/4" spines are whitish, slender and appear as pairs along the branches.  The flowers in spring, are bright yellow catkins, 1/4" wide. 

Plant Characteristics
Plant Category: 
Trees-Shade & Ornamental
Name: 
Mesquite Screwbean
Plant Type: 
Deciduous
Flower: 
Catkin flowers are bright yellow, 1/4" wide
Mature Size: 
25' x 15'
Water: 
Very low once established
Exposure:: 
Full sun
Spacing: 
8'
Soil Type: 
Loam; sand; alkaline; well drained
Planting Time: 
Any season
Comments
Comments: 

Mesquites are among the most dominant and significant trees of the southwest.