A very unique tree from the Sonoran Desert. The ironwood is a tree that does not need maintenance or irrigation (once established), grows tall and wide and provides very good shade. It is always green, it sheds its small leaves but they are quickly replaced by new ones. Its flowers are small, vary in color, between white, pink and purple, are edible as well as the seeds, and they can be served in salads and desserts. In the flowering season these trees are filled with color, very good looking, and their flowers stand out from the grayish branches and trunk.
Where there is an ironwood, there is life, since it serves as a refuge for both birds and baby plants that grow under its shade and are protected from extreme heat and cold. Birds nest in its branches, feed on the seeds, as do rabbits and coyotes, and native bees are attracted to its flowers.
In their natural environment, ironwoods are found near streams and rocky soil, but they adapt to any soil that has good drainage. If you have a large patio in need of good shade, this is the perfect tree. Although it grows slowly, it can grow up to 50 ft, a long-lasting tree (some trees are estimated to be about 800 years old!), it has thorns like many other desert trees, but these thorns in particular, are small and curved (like cat's claw). Sadly, we humans have not been very smart in appreciate this beautiful tree, since it is used excessively for the production of charcoal and the famous ironwood figures in Sonora, those extractive activities endangered the ironwood population.
It is a tree that, in addition to being beautiful, has not been used for what is sorely needed in the desert, shade! And like almost all the plants of the Sonoran Desert, these are not found in ordinary nurseries, (particularly in Mexico) so, it is a good idea to go out and find their seeds, maybe at the end for the summer, starting the fall. Imagine walking outside in your patio, sit under the shade of an ironwood tree, enjoy its flowers and the happy birds singing... It’s time to propagate them and enjoy their beauty!
Type: Long-lived tree, slow growing, with small curved thorns.
Size: 20 to 50 ft tall and wide.
Water use: As with all desert plants, watering is recommended for the first two years for the roots to establish, after which watering is not required.
Flower season: From April to May.
Flowers: Cute, small flowers vary in color, between white, pink and purple. Some years, the trees fill up entirely with flowers and it looks beautiful.
Food for: Everyone! The seeds are edible, they have a peanut-like flavor. Birds and humans have fed on these seeds for a long, long time. The flowers are also edible, they can be added to salads and desserts. Doves, quail, rabbits, and coyotes feed on the seeds of this tree.
Where to plant: Full sun, lots of space because it will eventually be a big boy. Hardy to 20 degrees F.
Distribution: It is found throughout the Sonoran Desert. In its natural habitat, it grows near streams and on sandy and rocky soils.
Ancestral use: Many indigenous tribes roasted the seeds and made protein-rich flour from them. *The Kiliwa (indigenous people of Mexico living in northern Baja California) prepared the seeds as pinole. Ironwood tea is recommended to cure insect and scorpion stings.
Landscape design: Ironwood provides excellent shade, so if you want shade on your patio, this is the perfect tree, just keep in mind that it will be a big tree and will need a lot of space to grow beautifully. Since it is a tree that is always green and does not shed many leaves, it can be a good candidate for patios with swimming pools. Its characteristic greyish color makes it a good partner for accent plants that stand out for their color, such as agaves, saguaros, cardones, chollas, ruelias and daleas.
Sources:
Books:
*Baja California Plant Field Guide 3rd Edition, Norman C. Roberts and J. Rebman.
Native Plants for Southwestern Landscapes by Judy Mielke.
Web:
www.ironwoodforest.org
www.aznps.com
www.desertharvesters.org
https://www.spadefootnursery.com
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