I tend to favor velvet mesquite over Chilean Mesquite even though it has thorns. Most mesquite trees will have thorns which can be very long or short and very sharp. Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens) and the Velvet Mesquite (Prosopis velutina). 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. i've soaked the foot in epson salts--which hasn't helped much. Today, consumers can buy mesquite furniture, lamps, flooring, various turned products, and … One variety that grows well in our area is Velvet Mesquite (Prosopis Velutina). two hours ago, the wound began to throb. Young branches are green and grow in a zig-zag pattern. Mesquites may have single or multiple-branched stems, with needle-sharp thorns up to 3 inches long growing on the younger branches; the thorns are always straight. Native Americans used the tree’s thorns to make sewing needles and stripped the inner bark to make cloth and baskets. One of the few desert trees with enough nectar to make honey, velvet mesquite (P. velutina) reaches a height of 30 feet with a trunk 24 inches in diameter. In the wild, mesquite trees are found in dry riverbeds and near water sources. Pods are tubular and 3 to 7 inches (8 to 18 cm.) Ornamental features on honey mesquite include pale yellow spring flowers and unusual seed pods. Description Top of page. These Mesquite trees have elongated bean pods that are sweet to taste when ripe ( reddish-yellow color). How to Grow Honey Mesquite Below in the photo is a Hybrid Mesquite that is Thornless, called the Chilean Mesquite. Their woody stems and branches have bipinnately compound leaves (leaves with two or more Small, catkin-like flowers appear in the spring. Mesquite fence posts were not affected by decay or insects. long and edible. Box 167, Queen Creek, AZ 85142, Phone 480-987-9094 e-mail: info@aridzonetrees.com Since their introduction in the 1950's, horticultural professionals have become accustomed to referring to Thornless Mesquites as Chilean Mesquite/ Prosopis chilensis or Ar- gentine Mesquite/ Prosopis alba.The actual botanical name of this specie has long been a subject of … The velvet mesquite is a fast growing medium sized tree with thorns that matures up to 40 feet tall and wide. Removing the bottom suckers and other smaller limbs at the bottom and it will grow into a nice medium-sized tree about 15 maybe 20ft. Prob have some of the thorn still in there. The following is adapted from the description of Burkart (1976), the accepted monograph on the genus. Velvet Mesquite . CEDAR CREEK LAKE. It is the true local, native mesquite of southern Arizona. All vegetative parts are more or less pubescent. The velvet mesquite is probably the most underused variety of mesquite for landscaping in Arizona. Get help. P. velutina is a tree up to 15 m high with a short trunk, though it is often a low-growing, much-branched shrub where introduced.Spines are axillary, geminate, 1-2 cm long. It has a compound leaf and a long pod that can range from tan, with or … Velvet Mesquite Trees are a deciduous plant that benefits by being able to retain moisture during the winter or exceptionally dry seasons better because water does not escape through the leaves. Its dense canopy of ferny green foliage provides welcome shade in the summer months. Some have worse side effects than others. Posts: 12,216. There are other nonnative species which originate from South America. Features. There are three common species of mesquite: honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), screwbean mesquite (Prosopis pubescens ) and velvet mesquite (Prosopis velutina). How to Grow a Velvet Mesquite Tree. Arizona mesquite, or velvet mesquite, is native to the Arizona desert. Care is similar to Argentine mesquite. Hybrid mesquites Mesquites cross-pollinate quite readily and as a Arid Zone Trees, P. O. Train Your Mesquite bush into a tree. The flowers are followed by light brown, elongated seedpods that … Velvet mesquite trees are drought tolerant yet will flourish with moderate irrigation. Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens) Velvet Mesquite (Prosopis velutina) Mesquite trees usually in most of their range they are the size of a shrub. The velvet mesquite also creates a mess (you don't want pods!!) THF Celebrity. It can grow up to 30 feet tall and typically is a multi-trunked tree. Although mesquite trees thrive in riparian areas, they have also adapted to drought conditions. Chilean mesquite tree is semi-dormant, from December to April, shedding most of its foliage in the winter. They have narrow, compound leaves 50 to 75 mm (2 to 3 inches) long that are sharply pointed. They may become unstable due to rapid crown growth and a limited root system in lawn conditions. Honey mesquite has 1-inch-long thorns on the branches, while "Maverick" mesquite is thornless. Velvet Mesquite on the other hand does develop a very deep root system if you will encourage it with good soil preparation and deep, infrequent waterings. Chilean mesquite trees may not have thorns at all, or if they do have thorns, the thorns are likely to be smaller than those of other mesquite. The Arizona Mesquite Tree Natives and their Cousins. Provided these trees have well-draining soil, they can survive in a wide variety of sites. There are hybrids of Screwbean, honey and velvet mesquite, which happen mostly where the species happen to overlap. Mesquite … Growing up in South Texas I knew to avoid the short scrubby velvet mesquite trees that grew on the undeveloped land behind my house. Mesquite is the most common shrub/small tree of the desert southwest. Stipular thorns up to 3" long are variably present. The Mesquite bush can easily be trained to look like a tree. The Velvet Mesquite is the most common native mesquite tree in the Tucson/Phoenix area. Velvet Mesquite (Prosopis velutina) Velvet Mesquite is a larger shrub or medium-size tree characterized by straight, 2-inch spines on the branches. By providing abundant shade, a lush green leaf canopy and graceful fissured brown trunks, Thornless Mesquites are another … This tree used to be far more common growing along the Santa Cruz in the days of perennial water flow. However, cold weather and low water stunt the tree's growth and development. Prosopis velutina, Arizona or Velvet Mesquite. I love the lush look in the summer. but the caveat Ponderosa provided is even more important An additional recommended mesquite for Tucson is the Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens). A form is available without thorns or with very small thorns. At the base of each leaf on young branches you will find two inch-long yellow thorns in pairs. Its' bark is dark brown. The Shade from this Thornless Chilean Mesquite, Prosopis chilensis, creates a 10-15 degree cooler temperature in our yard. It does have vicious thorns that will stop anyone from climbing this tree. While not as large or drought-tolerant as the Velvet Mesquite, the Screwbean is fast-growing and produces an unusual and very tasty screwbean pod. Many types of mesquite trees have thorns of some kind, which can either be very short or monstrous in length (and all are horribly sharp!). The velvet mesquite is bigger than the other two, with a diameter that can reach 2 feet and growing to an average of 30 feet. The velvet mesquite is the largest of the mesquite species. It does have small, sharp thorns so be cautious about site selection. It does have small, sharp thorns so be cautious about site selection. This variety of Mesquite is fast growing and can reach heights of 15 feet or more. Go see the doc today. It is winter deciduous in areas of frost. tall. Arizona native mesquite develops into a large deciduous shrub or medium-sized tree, growing to about 30' tall and wide. It can grow as a single-trunked tree about 30 feet tall, and just as wide, with a two feet diameter trunk. velvet mesquites have small thorns which become less problematic as the tree matures. The thorn did not stay in. The dogs use the shade from the Mesquites to stay cool. It has 4-inch long spikes and an 8-inch fruit, like the honey mesquite does. I have found some information on web sites that state the mesquite thorn is poisonous, but no site has any infromation about any type of treatment. Mesquite trees have a long taproot that they use to locate enough moisture to keep them alive. The tree is armed with long thorns, which makes them good candidates for a defensive hedge. Although the branches are crooked and twisted, they were used by early settlers to construct Spanish missions, haciendas, and even fencing. They ripen in late summer. It is a low-branched, broad spreading thorny shrub or small tree with a well-developed crown. I’ve never watered my Mesquite tree, but it does receive runoff from the roses nearby. The fern-like leaves and fruit have short dense hairs that give them the appearance of velvet. IDENTIFICATION: Velvet Mesquite’s bark is reddish-brown and smooth when young, older trees have bark that’s gray-brown, rough, thick, and shredded into long, narrow strips. Although it does not get as large as the Chilean or Argentine mesquite, it's pods make the best-tasting flour. Mesquite trees are drought tolerant and rarely need to be watered. This tree is native C. CCBIRDDOGMAN. [Re: Rudy-S2k] #2005493 01/10/11 08:54 PM: Joined: Nov 2007. Mesquite bark is rough, scaly and reddish brown. Mesquite thorn is bad poision. Mesquite trees have a long taproot that they use to locate enough moisture to keep them alive. Many of the most popular and well adapted shade trees in the desert landscape palette have thorns including Cercidium floridum (Blue Palo Verde), C. praecox (Sonoran Palo Verde), Acacia smallii (Sweet Acacia), Olneya tesota (Ironwood), Prosopis velutina (Native Mesquite) and P. glandulosa (Honey Mesquite). Often growing in dense thickets, it is larger than the other species, reaching a height of 30 feet; the trunk may be up to 24 inches in diameter. I squeezed the site to get it to bleed and then treated with hibiclens. Older trees can reach a height of 20 to 30 ft. 06-03-2015, 07:18 PM Jukesgrrl : Location: Tucson for awhile longer. Supposedly they don't have thorns. This vigorous tree has a wide spreading crown, deep green leaves, and is deciduous. Mesquite beans, durable enough for years of … Velvet mesquite info indicates that the flowers are sweetly scented and a favorite of bees, which make excellent honey from the nectar. It does have thorns, but they are small and occur only on new growth. Velvet Mesquite This is the other variety that grows on our property. Three Arizona Mesquite Tree Natives & Their Cousins There are about 40 mesquite varieties found worldwide, but three species are native to the state of Arizona. The foliage is nearly evergreen." For instance, the Chilean mesquite tree in Arizona tends to thrive. Like many members of the legume family (called Fabaceae these days), mesquite restores nitrogen to the soil. Mesquite wood is known for its density and durability. Re: Are mesquite thorns poisonous? I have them too and they all have thorns, though not to the degree of the velvets. The pods are fairly long and tubular, resembling wax beans.