Mesquite
Neltuma juliflora
- Native to:
- Aruba, Bahamas, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Galápagos, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Leeward Is., Mexico, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Panamá, Peru, Venezuelan Antilles, Windward Is.
Dick Culbert (www.flickr.com) from Gibsons, B.C., Canada
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Neltuma
- Species:
- Neltuma juliflora
- USDA Symbol:
- PRJU3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 1200 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may,jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow, cream
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Hubbard's silk moth (Syssphinx hubbardi), Juno buckmoth (Hemileuca juno), Syssphinx heiligbrodti
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals, bees, livestock
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from root crown after fire; mature trees have thick bark providing some fire resistance.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- poor, sandy, well-drained soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.5 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- tolerates saline and arid conditions
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Scarification of hard seed coat required; hot water treatment or mechanical scarification improves germination significantly.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI