Palo Brea
Parkinsonia praecox
A compact palo verde relative with smooth green bark and cheerful sulfur-yellow spring blooms from the Baja region.
Frost-sensitive, hardy to about 20-25°F and best in low desert; protect through the first winters.
AMWUA Notes
Very low water; a sculptural green-barked specimen that should not be overwatered.
Care Guide
Deep-soak monthly in summer once established; deep infrequent watering.
Prune in late winter to develop the picturesque branching and reveal the smooth green trunk; wear gloves for the sharp tips.
No fertilizer needed; a nitrogen-fixing legume.
Palo verde borer is possible.
Sulfur-yellow bloom in spring; drought-deciduous, shedding flowers, fine leaves, and pods.
Soil, Feeding & Propagation
Well-draining sandy, gravelly, or decomposed-granite soil; tolerates caliche and alkaline pH 7.5–8.5, and resents wet feet
Needs well-drained soil.
None — thrives in lean desert soil without fertilizer.
Grown from scarified seed; frost-tender when young
12–15 ft
Deep, non-aggressive roots; keep the sharp branch tips and litter back from pools and paths
Placement Tips
- •Compact at about 15 ft with a sculptural smooth green trunk, ideal as a courtyard specimen.
- •Sharp branch tips and seasonal litter, so keep it back from pools and paths.
- •Showcase the picturesque zigzag branching with uplighting.
- •Full sun with excellent drainage.
Features
Best Uses
Companion Plants
Quick Stats
Design Styles
Include in Your Project
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Use this care guide to maintain your Palo Brea. Questions about your landscape? Reach out anytime.
Data from 2024 AMWUA “Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert” guide.