Palo Blanco
Mariosousa willardiana
A sculptural tree with striking white peeling bark that creates an elegant, luminous presence in the desert landscape.
Frost-sensitive, hardy to about 20-25°F and best in low desert; protect through the first winters.
AMWUA Notes
Very low water use; prized for its luminous white bark, and it resents overwatering.
Care Guide
Deep-soak every 2-3 weeks in summer once established; extremely drought tolerant with deep infrequent watering.
Prune minimally to showcase the trunk; remove lower branches to reveal the white bark and thin the airy canopy in late winter.
No fertilizer needed; a nitrogen-fixing legume.
Essentially pest-free.
Cream catkin flowers in spring; drought-deciduous with fine foliage and shedding white bark.
Soil, Feeding & Propagation
Sharply draining sandy, gravelly, or decomposed-granite soil; tolerates caliche and alkaline pH 7.5–8.5, and resents wet feet
Needs sharp, fast-draining soil.
None — thrives in lean desert soil without fertilizer.
Grown from scarified seed; frost-tender when young
8–10 ft
Slender, non-invasive roots; safe near pools and patios with only light litter
Placement Tips
- •Slender at about 10 ft wide, so it fits tight beds, entries, and courtyards.
- •Showcase the peeling white trunk against a dark wall or with uplighting.
- •Thornless and pool friendly; the fine airy foliage drops light litter.
- •Full sun; group two or three for a grove effect where space allows.
Features
Best Uses
Companion Plants
Quick Stats
Design Styles
Include in Your Project
Love Palo Blanco? Our landscape team sources from wholesale nurseries and can incorporate it into your design.
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Use this care guide to maintain your Palo Blanco. Questions about your landscape? Reach out anytime.
Data from 2024 AMWUA “Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert” guide.