Tenaza
Havardia pallens
A narrow, upright tree with sweetly fragrant cream puffball flowers and a graceful canopy.
Hardy to about 15-18°F in low and mid desert; frost hardy once established.
AMWUA Notes
Low water; a narrow, fragrant screen tree that is very drought tolerant.
Care Guide
Deep-soak every 2-3 weeks in summer once established; drought tolerant.
Wear gloves for the thorns; train to an upright single or few-trunk form and thin for shape in late winter.
No fertilizer needed; a nitrogen-fixing legume.
Essentially pest-free.
Fragrant cream puffball flowers in summer after rains, often reblooming; semi-deciduous with pod litter.
Soil, Feeding & Propagation
Well-draining native, rocky, or decomposed-granite soil; tolerates caliche and alkaline pH 7.5–8.5
Needs well-drained soil.
None — thrives in lean desert soil without fertilizer.
Grown from scarified seed; establishes from nursery transplants
10–12 ft
Deep, non-aggressive roots; keep 8–10 ft from pools and walkways for thorns and pod litter
Placement Tips
- •Narrow upright form about 12 ft wide, good for tight screens and courtyards.
- •Medium thorns, so keep it 8-10 ft from walkways and pools.
- •Fragrant blooms are lovely near seating, but the allergen pollen makes it a poor choice for allergy-sensitive patios.
- •Full sun; plant in a row for a narrow privacy screen.
Features
Best Uses
Companion Plants
Quick Stats
Design Styles
Include in Your Project
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Use this care guide to maintain your Tenaza. Questions about your landscape? Reach out anytime.
Data from 2024 AMWUA “Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert” guide.
Tenaza — common questions
Answers for low-desert Phoenix conditions, drawn from this plant’s growing data.
How much water does Tenaza need in Phoenix?
Tenaza is a low-water tree once established. Deep-soak every 2-3 weeks in summer once established; drought tolerant. Low water; a narrow, fragrant screen tree that is very drought tolerant.
How big does Tenaza get?
Expect roughly 25 ft tall and 12 ft wide at maturity, with a moderate growth rate. Allow about 10–12 ft of spacing when planting. Deep, non-aggressive roots; keep 8–10 ft from pools and walkways for thorns and pod litter.
Can you plant Tenaza near a pool?
Not ideally. Tenaza is not rated pool-friendly, so it is better placed away from the pool deck and skimmer. Litter is rated seasonal.
Can Tenaza handle Arizona heat and winter frost?
Tenaza is hardy in USDA 9-11 and wants full sun. Hardy to about 15-18°F in low and mid desert; frost hardy once established. Fragrant cream puffball flowers in summer after rains, often reblooming; semi-deciduous with pod litter.
Does Tenaza have thorns?
Yes — Tenaza has medium thorns. Site it back from walkways, seating and pool decks where people brush past.
Is Tenaza safe around pets?
Tenaza 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 Tenaza bloom in Arizona?
Tenaza blooms in summer, with cream flowers. The flowers are fragrant.
How much maintenance does Tenaza need?
Tenaza is moderate-maintenance. Leaf, flower and pod litter is rated seasonal. Wear gloves for the thorns; train to an upright single or few-trunk form and thin for shape in late winter.
What kind of soil does Tenaza need?
Well-draining native, rocky, or decomposed-granite soil; tolerates caliche and alkaline pH 7.5–8.5. It needs no supplemental feeding. No fertilizer needed; a nitrogen-fixing legume.
Is Tenaza native to Arizona?
No. Tenaza is not an Arizona native; it originates from the Southern Texas, Northeastern Mexico, but it is grown successfully in low-desert landscapes here.