Blue palo verde tree with smooth blue-green bark and a canopy covered in bright yellow flowers in a gravel yard

Blue Palo Verde

Parkinsonia florida
Categories:
Trees  ·  
Desert & Native Trees
Light
Full sun
Water
Low water once established. Water deeply and allow soil to dry between irrigations; occasional deep summer watering supports a fuller canopy. Newly planted trees need more frequent watering while establishing.
Size
15-30 ft tall × 15-20 ft wide
Habit
Upright tree – multi-trunk
Toxicity
Non-toxic
Description
A Sonoran Desert native tree with blue-green bark, airy foliage, and a spectacular spring display of yellow flowers. Commonly classified as Parkinsonia florida, formerly Cercidium floridum.
Bloom Time
Spring (March-May)
Deciduous / Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Special Features
Attracts Bees / Pollinators, Attracts Birds, Drought Tolerant
Growth Rate
Moderate to fast
Growth Habit
Upright tree – multi-trunk
Mature Size
15-30 ft tall × 15-20 ft wide
Flower Color
Yellow
Foliage Color
Blue-green
Landscape Use
Container / Patio, Desert / Xeriscape, Pollinator / Wildlife Garden, Shade Tree, Specimen / Accent
Garden Style
Arizona Native, Desert / Xeriscape, Pollinator / Wildlife, Shade / Indoor
Soil
Alkaline Tolerant, Sandy / Rocky, Well-Drained
Companion Plants
Brittlebush, Chuparosa, Desert marigold, Fairy duster, Red yucca, Santa Rita prickly pear
Non-toxic
Non-toxic
Care Instructions

Light: Full sun; thrives in Phoenix heat.

Water: Low water once established. Water deeply and allow soil to dry between irrigations; occasional deep summer watering supports a fuller canopy. Newly planted trees need more frequent watering while establishing.

Soil: Well-drained sandy, gravelly, or loamy soil; tolerates alkaline desert soils. Avoid persistent saturation.

Mature size: 20–30 feet tall and 20–30 feet wide; occasionally larger under favorable conditions.

Bloom: Abundant spring blooms, typically March through May in Phoenix.

Evergreen / deciduous: Deciduous; sheds leaves during drought or cold, while blue-green bark remains attractive year-round.

Growth rate: Moderate to fast with adequate moisture; slower under very dry conditions.