Blue Paloverde
Parkinsonia florida
- Native to:
- Mexico, United States
Stan Shebs
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Parkinsonia
- Species:
- Parkinsonia florida
- USDA Symbol:
- PAFL6
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 1200 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
- ★★★☆☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Hubbard's silk moth (Syssphinx hubbardi), Syssphinx heiligbrodti
Reported Fauna Sightings
Hummingbirds: Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna), Costa's Hummingbird (Calypte costae)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, bees, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from base after fire damage; tolerates periodic desert fires.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to desert regions, drought-tolerant
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 10–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds have hard seed coat requiring mechanical scarification or hot water treatment. Germinates readily after scarification.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Scarification of seeds using hand pruners or sand paper to break through the outer seed coat, followed by a 24-hour soak to ensure penetration of the seed coat.
Establishment: Seeds should be collected from sources where cross pollination with other Parkinsonia species is not possible. Collection time is mid June to mid July, as soon as seed pod and seed are dry but before they fall to the ground.
Source: npn.rngr.net