Catclaw Acacia (also called Devil's Claw Acacia) Acacia greggii, takes it name from the curved thorns that are found along the smaller branches and new growth. It grows as a small tree or large shrub throughout the southwest US and northern Mexico to a height and width of 15 to 25'. Catclaw Acacia can be found growing on canyon slopes, along arroyos and desert flats at elevations below 5000 feet. It readily tolerates desert heat and winter cold to 0 degrees F. Catclaw Acacias are among the most drought tolerant trees in the Sonoran desert.

Like many desert natives, established trees can survive without supplemental irrigation but do best with monthly deep soaking during the hottest months ( May through September). It grows at a moderate rate, thrives in full sun and is semi to fully deciduous in winter. Two inch long flowers spikes of mildly fragrant, cream to pale yellow flowers are produced from spring to fall. Unpruned, Catclaw Acacia grows as a large shrub with limbs reaching the ground. In native settings it forms thickets that provide shelter and food for desert wildlife. Trees left unpruned in landscape settings make excellent security planting with thorns that snag and hold clothing. Conversely, this is not a tree well suited for high traffic areas, patios or near play equipment.

Pruning lower branches from mature specimens reveals the graceful, twisted and gnarled trunks. Nursery grown specimens are trained into multiple trunked and standard trunked tree forms. This form is easily retained with regular pruning and shaping. They may also be allowed to revert to the natural form if left unpruned. 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. Trees may also attract bird and other wildlife in landscape that border native desert.

Tesota or Tree Cat Claw, Acacia occidentalis, is a slightly larger stature cousin of A. greggii. A desert native from the states of Sonora and Sinaloa, Mexico, Tesota resembles Mexican Ebony (Pithecellobium mexicanum) with a broad, spreading, dispersed leaf canopy of small gray-green leaves. The trunks are dark gray and fissured. Tesota grows at a moderate rate to an ultimate height of 30 to 40' and is hardy to 15 degrees. Like Catclaw Acacia, Tesota has curved, snagging thorns along branches.

Highly fragrant, cream to white, ball shaped flowers are produced from February to April. The flowers are so wonderfully fragrant that one botanist reported that he could smell the trees before he saw them. Supplemental irrigation or sufficient rainfall can promote profuse flower displays. Curved, tan seed pods mature in early summer. Not all pods are shed over the winter. In the desert the tree grows in deep soils along valley floors and arroyos and is rarely found on hillsides.

Monthly, deep, summer irrigations promote optimal growth rate and flower production. Thorns are still a concern. Trees should be placed where the fragrance and color of the flowers can enliven the landscape but not snag passersby. The tree has not been widely used in landscape settings but is an excellent addition to the palette with its larger stature, lacy canopy and fragrant flower.