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Combining the growth rate and adaptability
of Thornless Mesquites and the structure and appearance of the
Desert Ironwood, Mexican Ebony (Pithecellobium
mexicanum) is a versatile and underutilized
desert landscape tree. With small gray-green leaflets, an open
canopy and smooth, chalky gray trunks, its appearance mimics
Desert Ironwood. The growth rate approaches that of Thornless
Mesquite. In warm micro-climates, it retains most of its
foliage, through the desert winter months. The lacy leaf canopy,
smooth, curving, chalky gray trunks make Mexican Ebony, also
called Palo Chino, a tree that can substitute for or be
inter-planted with Ironwoods. Unlike Ironwoods, it can be
planted in a wide variety of landscape settings including turf
areas or mixed with under-story plantings that require regular,
year round irrigation.
The tree is native to the Mexican states of Sonora, Sinaloa and
southern Baja. In natural settings trees are found growing in
arroyos, desert slopes and valley floors. They cannot be
naturalized in desert landscape settings and will require some
summer irrigation. Both the small leaflets and immature bark are
a pale gray-green. The bark fissures and darkens slightly as
trunks and branches mature. It is hardy to 15 F and armed with
small cat-claw like thorns. Cream colored blooms appear in March
and April with 1 to 3 inches long, thick brown pods maturing by
mid-summer. In the desert, trees mature to about 20' tall and
15' wide. In landscape settings, with the benefit of regular
irrigation, fertilization and well-drained soils, they may
grow larger.
Mexican Ebony provides filtered shade that is ideal for
promoting the growth and flowering of under-story plantings.
With its striking color and form it can be used as an accent
tree, at entry monuments or any application where Ironwoods
would be attractive. They work well as a perimeter planting or
as a transition tree from landscaped areas to undisturbed
desert.
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