A thornless hybrid palo verde selected and grown in Arizona, with bright emerald-green bark and a fuller canopy than most palo verdes. It brings a heavy wash of yellow flowers each spring and gets by on little water once established.
Living with it in the Phoenix Valley
Watering
Follow the tree schedule in our Landscape Care guide while it establishes. Once mature, it needs far less than most shade trees. Extra water pushes soft, fast growth that is more likely to fail in monsoon winds, so keep it on the lean side.
Pruning
Thin lightly in the warm season, when cuts close quickly. Choose one or a few strong trunks while the tree is young and remove crossing or competing limbs. Avoid heavy summer cuts, which can expose the green bark to sunburn.
Cold
A typical Phoenix winter is no problem. A hard freeze near 20°F can burn tender tips on young trees, which grow back in spring.
Pests
Generally trouble-free. Watch for spider mites in the dry heat of late spring; a strong rinse of water usually handles them.
How our designers use it
Shade for patios and courtyards
Its fuller canopy gives a bit more shade than an open palo verde while still letting light through to the plants below.
Close to where people walk
With no thorns, it can sit beside entries, paths and seating areas where a native palo verde would snag clothing.
Year-round green structure
The green trunks and branches keep color in the garden even when the tree drops leaves in winter or drought.
Good to know
Around the pool
Expect spent yellow blossoms in spring and fine leaflets through the year. It is a reasonable choice near a pool deck, but we generally keep the canopy from hanging directly over the water.
Wind
Like other hybrid palo verdes, it can catch monsoon gusts if overwatered and left top-heavy. Lean watering and good early structure are the best protection.
