This time we will talk about a such beautiful tree, ideal for small patios and that will attract everyone's attention with its unique details that make it stand out among the other trees.
The bad news is that this tree is only found in the state of Sonora (in the wild), but the good news is that it is so well adapted to the Sonoran Desert (since it has evolved for thousands of years in this habitat) that if we propagate it to other places within this desert, it adapts very well, and lucky for us, in Tucson, several nurseries sell this beauty.
This is a small tree, can reach up to 20ft tall. Its leaves are tiny, they fall off in spring and summer, leaving the tree with only very thin branches. It blooms in spring, bearing beautiful feathery, fluffy, cream-colored flowers, followed by pods.
But the most attractive thing about this tree is its bark, similar to the torote (Bursera microphylla) that abounds in North and South Baja California, the “flaky effect” happens with the Palo Blanco (don’t ask me why), its trunk becomes flaky, releasing pieces that look like paper.
In its natural habitat it can be found on rocky slopes and canyons in the south of Sonora. This tree is beautiful in every way, visually it inspires elegance with its wispy appearance (similar to the weeping willow), its flowers attract all kinds of pollinators, its trunk stands out among all the plants and it is for these characteristics that it is recommended to be used as accent plant, either in entrances to small patios or have a couple together. It is a tree that offers shade, is fast growing and does not require much water.
Just be aware that it doesn't do well in cold weather, so if you live in northern Sonora, BC, or Arizona, be sure to find a spot in your yard where it's protected from frost.
Type: Perennial tree, it sheds its leaves in spring and summer, but recovers them later.
Size: It reaches up to 20ft high and 10ft wide or a little more.
Water use: It needs very little water.
Flower season: In Spring and Summer.
Flowers: Cream-colored, spongy and feathery texture, about 2 in wide.
Food for: Larval host for marine blue butterfly (Leptotes marina), various owlet moths (family Noctuidae), and geometer moths (family Geometridae). The flowers attract butterflies and many other insects that feed on nectar.
Where to plant: Direct sun.
Distribution: It is found in its natural habitat in the State of Sonora on rocky slopes and canyons. It's also used a lot ornamentally here in Arizona.
Ancestral use: The Seris used the wood of this tree as a building material.
Landscape design: It is a perfect accent plant, which means you only have one or two or three, close together and they draw attention when you enter a patio. They can be placed in the center of a patio, or near a wall to bring out their color and unique bark. It is also called a specimen plant, indicating that it is a special plant and that it can be placed in an area where it will serve as a focal point. Although it does provide shade, it is not ideal to use this tree for that purpose, since there are other trees that offer more shade because they are more leafy, such as the feather tree (Lysiloma watsonii) or larger trees such as mesquite and ironwood.
Sources:
Books:
Phillips, S.J. and Comus, P.W. (2000). A Natural History of the Sonoran Desert. Tucson: Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Press. Print.
Native Plants for Southwestern Landscapes by Judy Mielke.
Web: