OLNEYA TESOTA Ironwood Native to N. Low to Full sun to Attracts Mexico, SW U.S., moderate water part shade hummingbirds Baja California Why we love it… This Arizona native is known around the world for its dense and heavy wood that is highly valued as quality firewood and as an exceptional woodworking material. Here in the landscapes of the desert southwest, ironwood serves as an excellent evergreen screen against unsightly views and provides cooling shade as it grows. Though it does grow slowly, patient gardeners are eventually rewarded with a large shrub or small tree with strong branches and a beautiful grey trunk that only gets more interesting with age. The bicolor, pea-like flowers that appear in late spring and fall are edible, as are the fuzzy seedpods that develop a few weeks later, whether eaten while still fresh or allowed to dry. Ironwood is typically evergreen in Tucson, but long bouts of drought or cold can cause it to shed leaves and smaller branches to conserve energy. This tree will tolerate any amount of sun and reflected heat, but younger trees may need some protection from cold winter Lydia says: Ironwood is tolerant of many soil temperatures until they’re well-established in the types, but it needs good drainage to thrive in landscape. the garden. Evergreen Tree: Olneya tesota Size (H x W): 15-30 feet x 15-25 feet Blooms: Bicolor pink/white to lavender/pink in spring to early summer Exposure: Full sun to part shade Hardiness Zone: 20° F, USDA Zone 9 Water: Low to moderate Civano Nursery Pruning: October 5301 S. Houghton Rd Tucson Arizona 85747 Growth Rate: Slow to moderate www.civanonursery.com .