Desert ironwood
Olneya tesota
Desert ironwood is an iconic Sonoran Desert tree renowned for its incredible density, longevity, and stunning purple-pink flower display in late spring. Once established, it is extremely drought tolerant and requires virtually no supplemental watering, making it one of the most resilient trees for arid Southwest landscapes. Plant in full sun with well-drained rocky or sandy soil and give it ample space to develop its broad, picturesque canopy.
Care Level
Low
Sun
Partial Shade
Water
Moderate
Growth Rate
Slow
Mature Height
120″ – 360″
Soil
loam
Life Cycle
Perennial
Spacing
360″
Flowers
purple
Watering Schedule
Every 21-30 Days • Water Deeply But Very Infrequently Once Established; Young Trees Need Monthly Deep Watering During Dry Season
Soil pH
6.8 – 8.6
Temperature
-20° – 110°F
Mature Spread
up to 180″
Root Depth
Deep
Foliage
Fine
Propagation: Seed
Native to
Attracts
Sources
Data: trefle, usda
Image: trefle.io — Taken Jun 12, 2021 by julia higgins (cc-by-sa)
No nurseries currently have this species in stock.