| Parkinsonia praecox | |
|---|---|
| | |
| In bloom | |
| | |
| Branching structure | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Caesalpinioideae |
| Genus: | Parkinsonia |
| Species: | P. praecox |
| Binomial name | |
| Parkinsonia praecox | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
List
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Parkinsonia praecox (syn. Cercidium praecox), the palo brea or Sonoran palo verde, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. [3] It is native to the dry Neotropics from Mexico to Argentina. [2] A small tree reaching 6 to 9 m (20 to 30 ft), it is usually a bit wider than it is tall. [3]
Parkinsonia praecox is valued as a xeriscaping ornamental for its yellow wands of early-blooming flowers, its chartreuse-to-green bark, and its graceful branching habit. [3] [4] A drought-adapted species, it drops its leaves in the dry season. [3] [4] Overwatering will cause it to grow rapidly with weak wood, and then it is likely to collapse. [3]