Don A.W. Carlson · CC BY 2.5Honey mesquite
Prosopis glandulosa
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Elevation:
- 1,000 ft – 5,500 ft
- Bloom:
- Apr – Jun
- Region:
- Southwest
A deep-rooted legume tree of southern NM with fine feathery leaves, fragrant cream flower spikes, and sugary seed pods. Fixes nitrogen, casts filtered shade, and fuels the classic mesquite smoke.
Care · tuned to the Southwest
Water
Deeply drought tolerant via a taproot that can reach far down. Occasional deep water speeds growth but too-frequent shallow water makes weak, floppy growth.
Sun & exposure
Full sun.
Soil
Well-drained; tolerates poor, alkaline, and mildly saline soils. Fixes its own nitrogen, so it needs no feeding.
In the Southwest
Thorny (garden 'thornless' selections exist) and marginal above ~5,500 ft where hard freezes kill young wood back. Late to leaf out in spring. Prune for a single or multi-trunk form while young; suckers if cut hard.
Common problems & fixes
Weak, top-heavy form and whole-tree failure — surface roots and overwatered fast growth cause limb drop
Fix — Water deeply and infrequently to drive roots down and prune for strong structure, not lush topgrowth.
Iron chlorosis and twig-girdler dieback — yellow leaves in alkaline soil; small branches severed by beetles
Fix — Correct chlorosis with chelated iron and better drainage, and rake up girdled fallen twigs to break the cycle.
Pets & toxicity
Pods contain sugars and are generally non-toxic in small amounts; large quantities can cause GI upset in livestock. Thorns are the main hazard.
Easy to confuse with
- Screwbean mesquite (Prosopis pubescens) — coiled pods
- Acacia / catclaw (Senegalia greggii) — curved thorns, different pods
Sources
Think you're looking at one?
Snap a photo and we'll rank the candidates against the local flora — honestly, and for free.
Identify a plant