Desert Ironwood

Olneya tesota A. Gray - Pea family

Size

Mature Height: Up to around 25.0 feet

Planting Distance: 12.0 feet

Plant Type: Tree, Shrub

Root Depth: 12 inches

Growth Form: Multiple Stem

Growth Rate: Slow

Features

Flower Color: Purple

Conspicuous Flowers: Yes

Bloom Time: Early Spring

Seasonal Growth: Spring, Summer, Fall

Evergreen: Yes

Fall Colors: No

Conditions

Shade Tolerance: Intolerant

Clay Soil Tolerance: Yes

Sandy Soil Tolerance: Yes

Drought Tolerance: High

Flood Tolerance: None

Fire Tolerance: None

Salt Tolerance: Low

Ecosystem Interactions

Pollinators: Native Bees; Beetles, Wasps, Flies; Butterflies; Larval Host (Butterfly); Hummingbirds

Larval Species depending on Desert Ironwood: Erynnis funeralis

Native Range

USA: Arizona
MEX: Mexico Northwest

Regional Native Status: L48 (N)

State-level native status is based on data available through Plants of the World Online. Regional Native Status comes from the USDA Plants Database. For more detailed native status information, please refer to BONAP.