But I know a blue palo verde in my neighborhood that was a big tree when I moved here in 1970, and it still looks healthy. My original seedling of Desert Museum broke apart last year at the age of 31.

Mark Dimmitt, a flower expert and retired director of natural history at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, said that foothills palo verde trees “flower in most years on deeper soils and ...

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts. If it is desirable to plant an easy-on-the-water California native ...

• The native Foothills Palo Verde tree serves as a “nurse plant” for saguaro cacti, providing nitrogen-rich leaf/seedpod/blossom litter to the ground, shade in summer and warmth in winter ...

The tree is hardy to around 12 F so you can plant it even in cold areas of town. It’s native to hillsides up to around 3,500 feet, so if you’re below this altitude it should grow well for you.

Your fall plant primer • The native Foothills Palo Verde tree serves as a "nurse plant" for saguaro cacti, providing nitrogen-rich leaf/seedpod/blossom litter to the ground, shade in summer and ...

Twila Cassadore demonstrates how the seeds are harvested from palo verde trees during a tour for the Society of Environmental Journalists conference on April 25, 2025, at Papago Park in Phoenix.