Olneya Species, Ironwood

They grow wild in my area up to about 2500 feet. Easy to identify in spring, covered in light purple flowers. Sharp curved thorns. Fast g...Read Morerowing with water, grows in wash. Will survive on only rain once established. I have a 30 ft. tree feeding from my septic drain area, it is about 12 years old. Needs a lot of pruning if you want to walk under it. Very crowded branches. Can take a lot of heat, does not like much frost. Top will be killed by hard frost, but can resprout from roots. Can live for a long, long time. Dense wood.

I have this one growing in my front yard. Is loaded with hook shaped thorns on young stems. Will be less thorny as it matures. Use cau...Read Moretion while trimming this tree as the thorns will dig deep into your flesh and then break off. Whatever you do don't hang Christmas lights on it. Trust me you'll only do it once. =)

I've gotten these to grow from seed, and I've transplanted them into pots... where they eventually died due to my neglect. Looks pretty ...Read Moremuch like a mesquite when a young seedling. I plan to try again and plant them out early, on some of the dryer parts of my land. I have no idea how they will fare in this humid, occasionally frosty climate (near Gainesville, Florida). They seem attractive trees, expecially in bloom, judging from photos.

I've seen this growing in the wild in the South Mountian Preserve in Phoenix and on the 'El Camino Del Diablo Trail' (Devils' Highway) th...Read Moreat runs between Ajo and Wellton, Arizona in the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge.