Acacia willardiana-- Palo Blanco

[fastfeat]

This attractive Mexican Acacia is being planted with increasing frequency in Palm Desert/La Quinta area. Makes a nice, thornless weeping tree to a supposed 20-25'/7-8m. Exfoliating bark is very attractive up-close. Chief drawback is tenderness (damaged at mid- to upper 20sF). Not sure how well it might grow in areas of lower heat and more rain.

http://arboretum.arizona.edu/taxa/Acacia_willardiana.html

http://www.desertmuseum.org/programs/alamos_trees_acawil.php

http://www.aridzonetrees.com/AZT%20Interactive%20Buttons/Tree%20Index/Cut%20sheets/Acacia/Acacia%20willardiana.htm

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

Wow! Much better than Parkinsonia.

[ThunderSRQ]

Any seeds available???

[fastfeat]

Any seeds available???

Tim--

They set seed rather sparingly (unlike many Acacia species), but I managed to get a few of the flat, papery pods. Let me see what the seeds look like and make sure they're beetle-free. I'll let you know.

[bahia]

Thanks for posting photos of this tree, and I agree that it is worth seeking out if one has the conditions for it. If I were designing gardens in a warmer/desert climate, this would certainly be a tree I would use a lot! I don't think I've ever seen this growing in more coastal parts of California, does anyone have experience with it in LA/San Diego? On the other hand, at least Parkinsonia aculeata is a very consistent performer even here in the cooler parts of the SF Bay Area, even if it doesn't bloom as long or prolifically where it doesn't get real summer heat. I've been wondering if the thornless hybrid Cercidium 'Desert Museum', has grown well in coastal parts of LA/San Diego, and whether this would be a good one to try in cooler summer climate areas? I have first hand experience with Cercidium floridum, which just simply doesn't grow much in our climate. I have seen a better looking C. floridum out at the Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek, but still, it looks nowhere near as good as they do in Phoenix, and just doesn't have the vigor or size that Parkinsonia aculeata does in northern California conditions.

[fastfeat]

vc

I've been wondering if the thornless hybrid Cercidium 'Desert Museum', has grown well in coastal parts of LA/San Diego, and whether this would be a good one to try in cooler summer climate areas?

According my buddy Glen Williams (formerly of CSU Fullerton Arboretum, now with the City of Burbank), Cercidium X 'Desert Museum' was not good at Fullerton (Sunset Zone 23). He says it was too pulpy and rolled over at the rootball. Probably much like C. floridum, Caesalpinia cacalaco in just having higher heat requirements. 'Desert Museum' in the low desert strike me as trees that would do better being grown harder (less water) than is commonly done.I suspect that they'll break apart (esp. multi-trunked) if they're too fat.

[Eric in Orlando]

I've seen that 2 in Tucson, AZ and its a really nice one. I've green seeds and tried it here but with no luck We do have one that survived the summer so maybe it will make it.

Same with Acacia stenophylla. It grows well for a year or two then croaks.

[Eric in Orlando]

Here is one at the Tucson Botanic Garden

and one on the U of AZ campus in Tucson

love the peeling bark