Honey mesquite trees (Prosopis glandulosa) are native desert trees. Like most desert trees, they are drought resistant and a picturesque, twisting ornamental for your backyard or garden. If you are thinking of growing honey mesquite, read on for more information. We’ll also give you some tips on how to care honey mesquite in the landscape.
Honey Mesquite Information
Honey mesquite trees can add summer shade and winter drama to your landscape. With twisted trunks, formidable thorns, and yellow spring flowers, honey mesquites are unique and interesting. These trees grow relatively quick to about 30 feet (9 m.) tall and 40 feet (12 m.) wide. The roots delve down even deeper – sometimes to 150 feet (46 m.) – which is what helps to make them so drought resistant. Ornamental features on honey mesquite include pale yellow spring flowers and unusual seed pods. The pods are fairly long and tubular, resembling wax beans. They ripen in late summer. Mesquite bark is rough, scaly, and reddish brown. The tree is armed with long thorns, which makes them good candidates for a defensive hedge.
How to Grow Honey Mesquite
When growing honey mesquite trees, you should know that they thrive in USDA plant hardiness zones 7 through 11. These desert plants are highly tolerant of heat and drought once established. This mesquite tree should be planted in full sun but is not picky about soil as long as it is well draining. Honey mesquite care includes regulating the amount of irrigation the plant gets. Remember that this is a desert native. It is an opportunist in terms of water, taking whatever is available. Therefore, it is best to limit water to the plant. If you give it generous amounts of water, it will grow very fast, and the wood will be weak. You’ll also need to do foundational pruning as part of honey mesquite care. Be sure to help the tree develop a strong scaffold while it is young.
-
Reese Witherspoon’s Natural DIY Wreath Beams With Festive Joy – Here’s How She Made ItBe inspired to recreate Reese Witherspoon's beautiful holiday wreath using greenery from your garden with our step-by-step guide to getting the look.
-
Growing Spotted Bee Balm: Find Out How To Grow Horsemint For Your Pollinator GardenFor anyone looking to cultivate native flowering plants that attract pollinators, spotted bee balm is a must! We show you how to grow horsemint for friendly garden visitors
-
Signs Of Mesquite Sickness – Recognizing Mesquite Tree DiseasesMesquite trees are attractive and drought tolerant, and a standard part of xeriscape plantings. Sometimes, though, these tolerant trees exhibit signs of mesquite sickness. Click here for information about diseases of mesquite trees and how to recognize them.
-
Screwbean Mesquite Info: Tips For Screwbean Mesquite CareThe screwbean mesquite is a small tree or shrub native to southern California. It sets itself apart from its traditional mesquite cousin with its attractive, corkscrew-shaped bean pods that appear in the summer. Learn more screwbean mesquite info in this article.
-
Mesquite Pest Solutions – How To Deal With Pests Of Mesquite TreesMesquite trees are an excellent choice for a tough landscape tree that requires very little input once established. Even so, you'll want to monitor them for insect infestations from time to time. If you see any, you'll know what to do after reading this article.
-
Are Mesquite Trees Edible: Learn About Mesquite Pod UsesIf someone were to mention "mesquite" to me, my thoughts immediately turn to the mesquite wood used for grilling and barbecuing. But is there more to mesquite beyond the grill? Can you eat mesquite? Are mesquite trees edible?" Click here to find out.
-
Moving Mesquite Trees – Is Transplanting A Mesquite Tree PossibleWhere other trees may wilt and dehydrate, mesquite trees draw moisture from the cool depths of the earth and gracefully ride out the dry spell. However, this deep taproot can make transplanting a mesquite tree quite difficult. Click here for tips on moving mesquite trees.
-
Mesquite Tree Uses – What Can Mesquite Be Used ForOf mesquite, many of us only know about the slow burning wood that makes for a great barbeque. That?s only the tip of the iceberg, though. What else can mesquite be used for? Mesquite tree uses are many and varied. Learn more about these uses here.
-
Mesquite Cutting Propagation : Can You Grow Mesquite From CuttingsMesquite plants make attractive specimens in the garden. Can you grow mesquite from cuttings? Absolutely. You will just need a little info on how to root mesquite cuttings and when and where to harvest your material. This article will help with that.
-
Sowing Mesquite Seeds: How And When To Plant Mesquite SeedsGrowing mesquite from seeds found in the wild is a fun way to enjoy these plants for free. However, mesquite seed germination can be capricious and requires several steps for success. Click on this article for further info on how to grow mesquite trees from seed.
