Among some of the rarer, more exotic tree species I had been researching, and looking to trial, this species was second on my list to obt...Read Moreain this year.
While visiting a nursery in Tucson known for hard-to-find plants, I was gifted with a stocky, 15gal. specimen. while dormant at the time, it rapidly leafed out after making the long journey back here in the back of a pickup.
The one aspect of this tree I didn't expect was just how thorny it was. Definitely not something to plant where anyone will brush up against it. On the other hand, old dead branches id pruned off my specimen make a great barrier and have kept the neighborhood cats out of various parts of the garden.
Newly emerging leaves add a nice splash of reddish copper to the overall apple green, billowy look of the foliage pattern.
While my specimen only produced a few on and off through the summer, the bright yellow flowers closely resemble those of the Palo Verde species and are produced in clusters here and there along the thorny branches. Seedpods, when produced, age from green to a rich copper color as they ripen.
Another interesting feature of Brasilwood is the fluted trunk and branches. Even as a younger specimen, this interesting pattern is evident.
Perhaps it's only potential flaw (if you aren't bothered by it being thorny) is it's cold tolerance. While the exact amount of cold this species can endure has yet to be firmly established, most observations made suggest that anything below 26 or 25F will burn off the foliage and potentially kill some of the wood, if not severely injure it. Site this exotic rarity carefully. Beyond that, this spiny exotic sun lover makes for an exciting conversation piece in any water-wise landscape.
A comparison between the flowers of five Palo Trees
--The Mexican Palo Verde (Parkinsonia aculeata), the upper petal starts out wi...Read Moreth red dots that eventually grow bigger and turn the entire top petal to red.
--The Palo Brea (Parkinsonia praecox), the upper petal has smaller & fewer red dots than the Mexican Palo Verde (P. aculeata) that don't grow bigger.
--The Blue Palo Verde (Parkinsonia florida), the upper petal is always a solid yellow just like the other four petals.
--The Little Leaf Palo Verde (parkinsonia microphylla), the upper petal is solid, all white, and the remaining petals are yellow.
--The Palo Brasil (Haematoxylum brasiletto), has flowers similar to Parkinsonia sp., and the top yellow petal has red dendritic streaks.
Among some of the rarer, more exotic tree species I had been researching, and looking to trial, this species was second on my list to obt...Read More
Does anyone know where to get the seeds, cuttings, or plant for Haematoxylon(or Haematoxylum) brasiletto, the Mexican logwood? Thanks.
A comparison between the flowers of five Palo Trees
--The Mexican Palo Verde (Parkinsonia aculeata), the upper petal starts out wi...Read More