Cercidium microphyllum (syn. Parkinsonia microphyllum) Fabaceae
Littleleaf Palo Verde, Foothill Palo Verde, Yellow Palo Verde (or Paloverde) sir-SID-ee-um mi-krow-FIE-lum
- Drought-deciduous shrub or small tree, slow-growing, to 25 ft (7.6 m) tall, about half or more wide, irregular shape, often multi-stemmed and low branched, spiny, ascending and spreading branches, trunk may reach 0.3 m in diameter, bark is smooth, thin, greenish and photosynthetic. Leaves alternate, pinnately compound (even), 3-6.5 cm long; leaflets minute, yellow-green, in pairs (leafless most of the year). Flowers usually cream-white, small (about 12 mm), in 3 cm long clusters. Fruits 4-8 cm long flat pods, often ending in a spine, 1-5 seeds (edible when young and green), constrictions between the seeds.
- Sun, well-drained soil, little or no additional water required after establishment, although summer irrigation increases growth rate and leaf retention. May be afflicted with root borers and mistletoe.
- Hardy to USDA Zone 8b Native range through central and southwestern Arizona, a few populations in southeastern California, and extending southward through Sonora and Baja California, Mexico. Most often found on rocky slopes of the foothills of desert mountains.