Screwbean Mesquite

Frost Tolerance: Hardy to 0°F (-18°C)

Heat Tolerance: Excellent

Sun Exposure: Full sun to light shade

Origin: Southern New Mexico and Texas, west to northern Baja California, throughout much of southeastern California, southern Nevada, eastern Arizona, and extreme southwestern Utah, mostly in river bottoms

Growth Habits: Thorny deciduous tree or shrub, up to 25 feet tall (7.5 m), 25 feet spread (7.5 m)

Watering Needs: Little water

Propagation: Seeds

The screwbean mesquite is thorny and can be kept as a barrier shrub.

Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens), U.S.D.A. Drawing, courtesy Hunt Institute

Blooming Habits:
Rod shaped yellow flowers in late spring.

Culture:
The seeds must be scarified before sowing. The seeds have a very long shelf life (probably over 50 years). The screwbean mesquite has a fair amount of salt resistance.