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Leguminosae

Texas paloverde is a small tree native to south Texas with attractive yellow flowers, smooth green bark and spiny, crooked branches. It is found on alkaline sandy loam or clays and is very drought tolerant. The leaves are twice compound and the bright yellow flowers clusters occur in the axils of the leaves, with some petals which develop orange or red spots.

Plant Habit or Use: large shrub small tree

Exposure: sun

Flower Color: yellow clusters

Blooming Period: spring

Fruit Characteristics: pod

Height: to 25 ft.

Width: to 20 ft.

Plant Character: deciduous

Heat Tolerance: very high

Water Requirements: low

Soil Requirements: alkaline

USDA Hardiness Zone: 8

Additional Comments: Cercidium macrum (border paloverde, considered a small tree) has been merged with C. texanum, considered a shrub. Some authors merge the two into Parkinsonia texana, so they then become varieties, e.g., P. texana var. texanum and P. texana var. macrum.