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Catclaw Acacia (also called Devil's
Claw Acacia) Acacia greggii, takes
it name from the curved thorns that
are found along the smaller
branches. This semi-deciduous native
of the American southwest and
northern Mexico grows at a moderate
rate to a height and width of 15 to
25'. It thrives in full sun and
tolerates temperatures of 0° F. Catclaw can be found growing on canyon
slopes, along arroyos and desert
flats to elevations below 5000 feet.
This specie has been present in the
Sonoran Desert for over 12,000 years
and individual specimens can live
for 130 years. They are among the
most drought tolerant trees in the
Sonoran desert. Established trees
can survive without supplemental
irrigation but do best with monthly
deep soaking during the hottest
months (May through September).
Two-inch long flowers spikes of
mildly fragrant, cream to pale
yellow flowers are produced from
spring to fall.
Left unpruned, branches form a
dense, thorny, spherical canopy that
makes this an excellent security
planting. Careful pruning reveals
the graceful, twisted and gnarled
trunks. Nursery grown specimens are
trained into multiple trunked and
single trunked tree forms.
Gray-green leaves are made of finely
divided leaflets that produce a
dispersed canopy and filtered shade.
Trees are fully deciduous in severe
droughts. Its rustic trunks, natural
form, summer flowers and hardiness
make Catclaw Acacia an ideal accent
or perimeter planting tree in high
and low desert landscapes. These
trees attract birds and other
wildlife in landscapes that border
native desert. |
