Average Size at Maturity : Fast growing; reaches 25 to 30 ft. tall and wide. The Chilean Mesquite tree is an excellent choice for folks who want a good drought tolerant shade tree. The thorns are often an inch or so longer also. In addition, this hybrid is tolerant of extreme heat and cold! bosque. Arizona Native Status: Native. I first noticed on a few of them some variety of a mexican mesuite that they were bleeding sap . During severe water shortages, the tree's root system will sprout. Keep reading to learn more about mesquite winter care and how to overwinter a mesquite tree. Arizona Native Mesquite, Velvet Mesquite Arizona Native Mesquite develops into a large deciduous shrub or medium-sized tree, growing to about 30' tall and wide. Then the branch dies , one of my trees it seemed to turn dead over in a week though I am sure it started before that . Pods are tubular and 3 to 7 inches (8 to 18 cm.) Like many members of the legume family (called Fabaceae these days), mesquite restores nitrogen to the soil. :-) Habitat: Desert, Upland, Riparian. Odor: No characteristic odor. realbirdlady, I do belive that the white seed pods that i have the ones that are a bit wider are the velvet mequite.. thanks for your help with that. Although mesquite trees thrive in riparian areas, they have also adapted to drought conditions. Mesquite tree hardiness varies from species to species, but they are mostly hardy from zones 6 through 9. It's rate of growth is strongly depended on water availability. Duration: Perennial, Deciduous. Chilean mesquite tree is popular in Southern Arizona because of its rapid growth, lower water requirement and ability to provide shade. Like many members of the legume family, mesquites have the ability to restore nitrogen to the soil. Provided these trees have well-draining soil, they can survive in a wide variety of sites. torreyana), the screwbean mesquite (P. pubescens) and the velvet mesquite (P. velutina).Along the Interstate highways you find Texas honey mesquites (P. glandulosa var. Unless there are a lot of these insects on one tree, we tend to disregard the damage as normal. staking your honey mesquite tree helps prevent wind damage. Mesquites are not merely trees; they create a whole ecosystem. Prosopis velutina (Velvet mesquite) Mature size of velvet mesquite is 30 – 50 feet (9 – 15 meters) height and spread (Fig. It is winter deciduous in areas of frost. Mesquite is the most common shrub/small tree of the desert southwest. There are three common species of mesquite: honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), screwbean mesquite (Prosopis pubescens ) and velvet mesquite (Prosopis velutina). They have an open, spreading canopy, which is their appeal for landscapes. Young bark is reddish-brown and smooth. Though Chilean mesquite has a symmetrical form, it's inner crown branch topology is chaotic, rugged trunk and crown character. The Velvet Mesquite May 3, 2017. The Velvet Mesquite can get quite large, with a two-foot trunk and 30 feet tall or more. Velvet mesquite thorns are stiff and have a sharp point. Of course, we have bigger sizes available right now so that they can create an instant landscape that is sure to add curb appeal. Velvet Mesquites grow taller in areas with more water, and along washes and rivers, they can form dense, shady riparian woodlands known as mesquite bosques. But how do you treat your mesquite tree in the winter? Velvet mesquite (Prosopis velutina) is the native species found in the Verde Valley. How to Grow a Velvet Mesquite Tree. The velvet mesquite is a fast growing medium sized tree with thorns that matures up to 40 feet tall and wide. On closer inspection it seems to be accompanied by a coarsening and ruptering of the bark . The Velvet Mesquite produces fragrant spikes of yellow flowers in April and sometimes again in August when it rains. Velvet mesquite is Figure 7: Prosopis velutina in winter (above) and spring (below) Figure 8: Leaf and seed pod of Prosopis velutina. The sweetly-scented flowers attract bees and pollinators in summer. The yellow mesquite thorns measure up to 1” (2.5 cm) and grow on young branches. Chilean Mesquite (Prosopis chilensis) You can better enjoy the views of Tecolote Canyon and San Diego Bay sitting under the Chilean Mesquite bordering the top of Kumeyaay Garden. On the down side, the roots of Chilean mesquites are often shallow and the trees tend to tip over readily during storms. Spontaneous hybrids have appeared naturally which display qualities of both ancestors. Like many members of the Legume Family, mesquite trees restore nitrogen to the soil. Common Name: Velvet Mesquite. Velvet Mesquite – Prosopis Velutina Chilean Mesquite – Prosopis Chilensis The first 3 listed mesquite trees are native to the southwestern deserts, where the Chilean Mesquite is native to, you guessed it….. South America. Mesquite that is clear and free from defects is easy to work with hand and machine tools, but irregular grain or knots can be challenging. On the down side, the roots of Chilean mesquites are often shallow and the trees tend to tip over readily during storms. It grows as a tree on the floodplains and terraces near the Verde River and its tributaries. Newly planted velvet mesquite trees may require extensive staking until established, especially if an upright growth habit is desired. How to Overwinter a Mesquite Tree. Mesquite is a common name for several plants in the genus Prosopis, which contains over 40 species of small leguminous trees. Make your Mesquite trees “seek out” water and nutrients by careful arrangement of your irrigation emitters and scheduled DEEP irrigation. The cylindrical spikes grow in dense clusters and hang from spiny branches. The second most common mesquite tree in the U.S., the velvet mesquite, can grow as tall as the honey mesquite and is generally the larger of the two trees, with a trunk around 24 inches in diameter. Velvet mesquite tree tolerates almost any soil type from well-drained, fertile soil to rocky, native soil. Borers live inside the trunk, and if visible, their pathways would be seen as a beautiful network of engraved tunnels with insect woodcarvers at the ends. Chilean mesquite (P. chilensis) is the species most frequently chosen for landscaping. Not many trees can rival this Mesquite tree for its marvelous filtered shade. Growth rate is slow to moderate but moderate to rapid under irrigation. Velvet mesquite flowers appear in late spring and are catkins of pale-yellow flowers. I think our native SW mesquites are more attractive than the S American algorrobas, too. The shortcoming of a Chilean or Honey Mesquite tree is wind damage. The taproot can be as big around as the trunk itself. The Chilean mesquite has been widely planted in the Southwest and readily cross pollinates with the native species. Chilean, Argentine and Honey mesquite..... but only the Chile and Argentine ones are mentioned as thorn-less.... Im going to do more research on this... maybe i will find it. Even … April 2008. glandulosa) indicating where Texas cattle were being moved to feedlots in California…manure falling from trailers. It can even be grown in a lawn as long as it is watered deeply and the soil is not too heavy. I might add...they self-seed with a vengeance good or bad), they also fall over if not irrigated deeply and over the root zone (as with many other trees we forgive for that), and they are ruggedly attractive (palo verdes are softly attractive). It is a legume adapted to a dry, desert climate. Allergies/Toxicity: Woods in the Prosopis genus have been reported to cause skin irritation. This mesquite tree has a rapid growth rate so you will not have to wait too many years to enjoy the beauty this tree can bring to your yard. As it matures, it becomes a dark, dusty gray or brown and takes on a shredded texture. Proper staking and proper watering can help you avoid wind damage with your mesquite trees. The Chilean mesquite is fast growing in areas with irrigation. Growth Habit: Chilean mesquite is a semi-evergreen, woody perennial tree. Velvet mesquite (Prosopis velutina) grows to 50 feet tall and wide in USDA zones 9 through 11 and has leaflets that are covered in velvety fine hairs. A second, lateral root system, spreads out beyond the crown 6-12 inches below the soil surface to catch and absorb any rain that may fall.