Cascalote
Tara cacalaco
A showstopper that lights up the winter garden with spikes of fragrant yellow flowers when most trees are dormant.
Frost-sensitive, hardy to about 20-25°F and best in low desert; hard freeze damages flowers and foliage, so protect young trees.
AMWUA Notes
Low water; valued for its rare fragrant winter bloom.
Care Guide
Deep-soak every two weeks in summer and less in winter; deep infrequent watering.
Prune after the winter bloom to shape; wear heavy gloves for the recurved thorns (or plant the thornless Smoothie cultivar) and train to a single or multi-trunk form.
A light spring feeding supports bloom.
Essentially pest-free.
Showy fragrant yellow flower spikes in late fall and winter when little else blooms; evergreen in mild winters with large flat pods.
Soil, Feeding & Propagation
Well-draining rocky or decomposed-granite soil; tolerates caliche and alkaline pH 7.5–8.5
Needs well-drained soil.
Low feeder.
Grown from scarified seed; thornless Smoothie form propagated to stay true
15–20 ft
Non-aggressive roots; keep the recurved thorns and large pods back from pools and paths
Placement Tips
- •About 20 ft as a winter-blooming focal point; site it where the rare winter color is visible from indoors.
- •Recurved thorns and pod litter mean keeping it 10+ ft from pools and paths, or choose the thornless Smoothie cultivar.
- •Full sun drives the best bloom; needs good drainage.
- •Grow as a single- or multi-trunk specimen.
Features
Best Uses
Companion Plants
Quick Stats
Design Styles
Include in Your Project
Love Cascalote? Our landscape team sources from wholesale nurseries and can incorporate it into your design.
Talk to a Dream BuilderGet a Project EstimateAlready a Client?
Use this care guide to maintain your Cascalote. Questions about your landscape? Reach out anytime.
Data from 2024 AMWUA “Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert” guide.
Cascalote — common questions
Answers for low-desert Phoenix conditions, drawn from this plant’s growing data.
How much water does Cascalote need in Phoenix?
Cascalote is a low-water tree once established. Deep-soak every two weeks in summer and less in winter; deep infrequent watering. Low water; valued for its rare fragrant winter bloom.
How big does Cascalote get?
Expect roughly 20 ft tall and 20 ft wide at maturity, with a moderate growth rate. Allow about 15–20 ft of spacing when planting. Non-aggressive roots; keep the recurved thorns and large pods back from pools and paths.
Can you plant Cascalote near a pool?
Not ideally. Cascalote is not rated pool-friendly, so it is better placed away from the pool deck and skimmer. Litter is rated seasonal.
Can Cascalote handle Arizona heat and winter frost?
Cascalote is hardy in USDA 9-11 and wants full sun. Frost-sensitive, hardy to about 20-25°F and best in low desert; hard freeze damages flowers and foliage, so protect young trees. Showy fragrant yellow flower spikes in late fall and winter when little else blooms; evergreen in mild winters with large flat pods.
Does Cascalote have thorns?
Yes — Cascalote has medium thorns. Site it back from walkways, seating and pool decks where people brush past.
Is Cascalote safe around pets?
Cascalote is listed as pet-friendly in this guide. If your dog is a determined chewer, check any new plant with your vet before planting.
When does Cascalote bloom in Arizona?
Cascalote blooms in winter-spring, with yellow flowers. The flowers are fragrant.
How much maintenance does Cascalote need?
Cascalote is moderate-maintenance. Leaf, flower and pod litter is rated seasonal. Prune after the winter bloom to shape; wear heavy gloves for the recurved thorns (or plant the thornless Smoothie cultivar) and train to a single or multi-trunk form.
What kind of soil does Cascalote need?
Well-draining rocky or decomposed-granite soil; tolerates caliche and alkaline pH 7.5–8.5. Nutrient needs are low. A light spring feeding supports bloom.
Is Cascalote native to Arizona?
No. Cascalote is not an Arizona native; it originates from the Central and Southern Mexico, but it is grown successfully in low-desert landscapes here.