Palo Verde - Unique Deciduous

[dbonsaiw]

Just got back from Arizona. Truly a wonderful environment with some awesome flora. As a lover of deciduous trees, I couldn't help but take some Palo Verde seeds. Not sure I can grow them, but will try. They are truly unique - first, they are deciduous not because of the cold, but because of the heat and arid conditions (cool!!). It seems they are leafless most of the year in Arizona. Which brings me to an even cooler fact - Palo Verde will photosynthesize from its trunk and branches - no leaves needed.

 

[rockm]

Unless you treat it something like a tropical, palo verde is unlikely to survive in New York for very long. It's hardy to zone 9-10. The name 'palo verde' literally means 'green stick' named because the trunk has chlorophyl in its surface tissue and is green. They're native obviously to desert conditions. Transplanting such arid environment trees to the humid wet cold eastern U.S. isn't a great recipe for longevity.

I lived in AZ as a boy. Had a palo verde tree in my front yard. They Don't make great climbing trees because of the thorns

 

[dbonsaiw]

I will try to treat it as a tropical, but even my indoor grow tent is probably too humid for this species. We shall see

 

[Bonsai Nut]

That is a desert lover's tree. I can't really imagine it doing well outside of its native range, unlike (for example) something like Texas Ebony which can handle some cold and some humidity.

But hey - take photos and let us know how it turns out!

 

[dbonsaiw]

Fingers crossed. It’s pretty hard to recreate the desert in NY. They are really cool trees though.

 

[andrewiles]

Should be easy enough to grow in New York. Based on my years in Phoenix, all you gotta do is grow it in your oven, with the light and heat cranked up.

 

[Kievnstavick]

I unsuccessfully attempted to grow some over in the PNW. I had planned on treating them like a tropical for the winters.

All of mine desiccated unfortunately. I blaming my own observance for that.

I think the tricky aspect will be trying to keep its substrate just wet enough where it can stay alive, but not too wet. As Palo verde don't have a storage organ like some other arid plants do.

 

[Wulfskaar]

We've got some growing in parking lots and places like there here in southern CA, so I know they'd have a shot at life here.

 

[Maiden69]

I lived in AZ as a boy. Had a palo verde tree in my front yard. They Don't make great climbing trees because of the thorns

You can get the "Desert Museum" which is a thorn-less variety. This one is on my to-get list.

 

[B-Trees]

Fabaceae (the legume family) can do well in containers but tends to hate root work. How many of us have tried Redbud (Cercis) or Acacia over the years? I myself have a Calliandra that I'm down-potting this year as a kusamono and hoping the lack of repotting after that will work out. Good luck!

 

[dbonsaiw]

On the bright side, we had a cultural exchange of sorts with friends who moved out to Phoenix. They introduced us to bouldering and we introduced them to bonsai. So there will be some Palo Verde seeds germinating and developing into bonsai, just maybe not by me. If they dare rub it in my face, they should expect many pics of snow-covered Japanese Maples.

I took the attached seed pods as well. Once again, I thought I got acacia, but maybe not. Last time I thought I had acacia it turned out to be Vachelia Caven. I fear I missed the acacia mark again and have Fabaceae surprise. These seeds were hard as a rock even after soaking and I may have damaged them in the scarification process.

 

[MHBonsai]

You can get the "Desert Museum" which is a thorn-less variety. This one is on my to-get list.

I have one of these I'm developing. In our 7a/7b climate here it does great in the summers. I put it in an unheated garage to overwinter, only when it gets down below freezing for extended periods. So far it's growing well here. They have huuuuge leaf structures. Not sure how I'll make it into anything interesting, besides in winter silhouette.

 

[dbonsaiw]

I took the attached seed pods as well. Once again, I thought I got acacia, but maybe not. Last time I thought I had acacia it turned out to be Vachelia Caven. I fear I missed the acacia mark again and have Fabaceae surprise. These seeds were hard as a rock even after soaking and I may have damaged them in the scarification process.

My best guess at this point is Texas Ebony, BTW.

 

[dbonsaiw]

Went to check on the tent this morning and the Palo verde seeds seem to be germinating. The growing tap root on one actually pushed the seed out of the soil so it’s doing something. I pushed it back in (????).

 

[hardtimes]

Went to check on the tent this morning and the Palo verde seeds seem to be germinating. The growing tap root on one actually pushed the seed out of the soil so it’s doing something. I pushed it back in (????).

they will sprout up with the seed case still attached and the strong ones will shed the shells as they push their baby leaves if thats what you meant, i attached a picture of black pine seedlings doing just that. if you mean that the tap root pushed it self out as well then i think planting it deeper was a good idea otherwise it should be fine if you just leave it

 

[Potawatomi13]

As desert tree believe these send down very long root first off to get moisture in exceedingly hot dry areas. If can be cut short and side roots grown in very well draining substrate such as pumice might do well if wet cold can be avoided. It does freeze in Arizona desert but humidity/wetness is low.

 

[dbonsaiw]

they will sprout up with the seed case still attached and the strong ones will shed the shells as they push

Spot on. Some seem to be having a harder time shedding the seed case than others. Interesting that the seed cases are rock hard again seeing that they were all soft and jelly like after soaking.

The Texas ebony appears to be poking something through the soil.

 

[Wulfskaar]

Went to check on the tent this morning and the Palo verde seeds seem to be germinating. The growing tap root on one actually pushed the seed out of the soil so it’s doing something. I pushed it back in (????).

Leave it! I've had many trees do this and it's normal.

EDIT: Just saw you left them.

 

[SilverCeder]

grown from seed this past spring. Have one that is 3 foot tall in potting soil. The humidity hasn’t seemed to bother it and I’m in southern Indiana. In the greenhouse all winter of course.

 

[milehigh_7]

You can get the "Desert Museum" which is a thorn-less variety. This one is on my to-get list.

Desert Museum is a 3-way cross between Parkinsonia microphylla, Parkinsonia florida, and Parkinsonia aculeata. I actually really like microphylla, which is what I have. The leaves are about 1/4th the size of the others and the trunk is actually greener than florida (Blue Palo Verde).