Southwestern Deserts
December, 2005
Regional Report
Web Finds
Native Plant Society of New Mexico
If you want to connect with others who value native plants, visit the Native Plant Society of New Mexico site. You'll find contact info for the 10 state chapters, a list serve, event listings, and overviews of conservation issues in the state.
Favorite or New Plant
Ironwood tree
Native to the Sonoran Desert, this majestic gray-barked tree (Olneya tesota) is extremely drought tolerant and heat resistant. In spring it's covered in a cloud of lavender-pink flowers. Like most native desert trees, it has an attractive multi-trunked structure. It is a slow grower to 25 feet tall and wide. Plant where it has sufficient space and almost no pruning will be needed. Once established, it seldom, if ever, needs supplemental watering and will suffer from root rot if overwatered. Thus, it is not a good choice for a lawn tree.
