Ironwood Tree / Ironwood – Desert Horizon Nursery

Ironwood Tree

Olneya tesota
Categories:
Trees  ·  
Desert & Native Trees
Light
Full sun
Water
Very low water once established. Water deeply during establishment, allowing soil to dry between soakings; established trees benefit from occasional deep irrigation during prolonged hot, dry periods.
Size
15-30 ft tall × 15-30 ft wide
Habit
Upright tree – multi-trunk
Toxicity
Not Established
Description
Long-lived Sonoran Desert native tree with gray-green foliage, thorny branches, exceptionally dense wood, and showy spring flowers; well adapted to Phoenix heat.
Bloom Time
Late spring (May to June)
Deciduous / Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Special Features
Attracts Bees / Pollinators, Attracts Birds, Drought Tolerant
Growth Rate
Slow
Growth Habit
Upright tree – multi-trunk
Mature Size
15-30 ft tall × 15-30 ft wide
Flower Color
Lavender-pink
Foliage Color
Gray-green
Landscape Use
Desert / Xeriscape, Native Garden, Pollinator / Wildlife Garden, Shade Tree, Specimen / Accent
Garden Style
Arizona Native, Desert / Xeriscape, Pollinator / Wildlife
Soil
Alkaline Tolerant, Sandy / Rocky, Well-Drained
Companion Plants
Brittlebush, Chuparosa, Creosote bush, Foothill palo verde, Saguaro, Santa Rita prickly pear
Not Established
Not established — verify
Care Instructions

Light: Full sun; tolerates reflected heat.

Water: Very low water once established. Water deeply during establishment, allowing soil to dry between soakings; established trees benefit from occasional deep irrigation during prolonged hot, dry periods.

Soil: Well-drained sandy, gravelly, or rocky soil; tolerates alkaline desert soils. Avoid persistently wet or poorly drained locations.

Mature size: Typically 20–30 feet tall and wide; very old trees may reach 35 feet or more.

Bloom: Late spring, usually April–June in Phoenix; flowering intensity varies with rainfall and growing conditions.

Evergreen / deciduous: Generally evergreen to semi-evergreen; may shed leaves during drought, cold weather, or shortly before flowering.

Growth rate: Slow; somewhat faster with careful supplemental irrigation.