Blue palo verde facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blue palo verde |
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| Tree in flower | |
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Caesalpinieae
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Parkinsonia
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P. florida
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| Parkinsonia florida |
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The blue palo verde (scientific name: Parkinsonia florida) is a cool tree found in the hot Sonoran Deserts of the Southwestern United States and Mexico. Its name, "palo verde," means "green pole or stick" in Spanish. This is because its trunk and branches are green! They actually help the tree make its own food through photosynthesis.
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Where Does It Grow?
You'll mostly find the blue palo verde in the Colorado Desert in southeastern California. It also grows in the Sonoran Deserts of southern Arizona and northwestern Sonora state in Mexico. These trees love places where water collects, like desert washes or flat areas called bajadas. Sometimes, you might spot them in dry scrub areas, especially if there's a hidden water source. They can grow up to about 3,600 feet (1,100 meters) high. You can also find them in the eastern Mojave Desert of California.
What Does It Look Like?
The blue palo verde can grow quite tall, reaching about 33 to 39 feet (10 to 12 meters). It grows quickly, like a large bush or a small tree. It usually doesn't live much longer than 100 years. This tree looks a bit different from its close relative, the foothill paloverde. It tends to be taller and grows faster.
Its trunk, branches, and leaves are all a gray-green color. This is why it's called the "blue" palo verde. When there's a long dry spell, the tree drops its leaves. But don't worry, it can still make food! Its gray-green branches and twigs do the job of photosynthesis even without leaves.
In late spring, the tree gets covered in bright yellow, pea-like flowers. These flowers are very popular with pollinators like bees, beetles, and flies. After the flowers, the tree grows seed pods. These pods are a bit bigger and flatter than those of the foothill paloverde. They have hard shells and are a food source for small animals like rodents and birds.
How Have People Used It?
Native American Uses
Long ago, the Native American tribes like the Quechan, Mojave, and Pima used the blue palo verde. They ate the beans from the plant. When the beans were soft and young, they ate them whole. Ripe seeds were ground into flour to make a porridge called atole. The sweet flowers were also eaten fresh or cooked. The wood from the tree was used for carving tools, like ladles.
Growing in Gardens
The blue palo verde is also grown by people as an ornamental plant. This means it's planted in gardens because it looks nice. It's a great choice for drought tolerant gardens because it doesn't need much water. It also fits well in wildlife gardens, attracting local animals. The tree creates a unique green-blue look in gardens. It also provides light, dappled shade, which is perfect for patios.
Its Name and Special Status
The Irish botanist Thomas Coulter was the first person to study and name Parkinsonia florida. He found samples of the tree near Hermosillo, Mexico, in 1830.
The blue palo verde is very special in Arizona. It is the official state tree of Arizona! In 1966, it was also chosen as the "city tree" of South Miami, Florida.
See also
In Spanish: Parkinsonia florida para niños
