desert ironwood
Olneya tesota
USDA zones9 to 11
SunNeeds full sun (6+ hours)
WaterNeeds dry soil
Size20 to 50 feet tall20 to 50 feet wide
- Bloom season
- Spring, winter
- Bloom color
- Pink , purple
- Foliage color
- White-gray
- Soil types
- Sand, loam
- Soil pH
- Acid, alkaline, neutral
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Desert ironwood (Olneya tesota) is a tree for low maintenance gardens. It grows outdoors year-round in USDA zone 9 and warmer, down to about 20°F (-7°C). In colder areas, grow it as a houseplant or bring it indoors for winter. Give it full sun and dry, sandy or loamy soil. Pink to purple flowers open in spring before the new leaves, and bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and birds visit them. The branches carry spines, so plant it away from paths.
Pairs well with Brittlebush, Desert willow, and Saguaro cactus.
Native range
AZ and CA.