Xeriscape Landscaping Plants For The Arizona Desert Environment
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Guajillo Acacia, Acacia berlandieri

Guajillo Acacia, Acacia berlandieri, October 11, 2006. Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Guajillo Acacia Leaves Acacia berlandieri	Guajillo Acacia Leaf Acacia berlandieri

Guajillo Acacia Acacia berlandieri Pea Family ( Fabaceae ) ( Leguminosae ) Guajillo Acacia: Also called; Guajillo, Berlandier Acacia, Thornless Catclaw, Mimosa Catclaw, Round-flowered Catclaw, Huajillla, Matoral. Guajillo is a deciduous, to semi - evergreen, multi-trunked large shrub up to 9 to 15 feet tall and wide, that can be pruned to a small specimen tree. It has fern-like, lacy foliage, with an open, airy, rounded form and 1/2 inch creamy white spring flowers. Guajillo flower nectar is relished by honeybees and in Texas there are enough Guajillo plants, that the bees make a delicious sweet honey from Guajillo's fragrant flowers. Guajillo is useful as a hedge or fragrant speciman plant around pools or patios. It is native to dry limestone hillsides in South Central and West Texas. Guajillo is cold hardy to about 10 degrees F. In Phoenix winters it usually retains most of its leaves. It prefers full sun, is drought tolerant once established. Guajillo does have thorns, but they are small and not rigid and do not create a problem. Height: Up To 9 - 15 feet tall and 9 - 15 feet wide. Bark: Gray brown bark with a few small prickles. Trunk: 3 to 8 inches in diameter. Flowers: Creamy white, 1/2 inch diameter balls including many tiny stamens; very fragrant. Blooming Time: Early February - March. Leaves: Grayish green, fern-like, bipinnately compound leaves, 4 to 6 inches long (10-15 cm), with 6 to 10 pairs of pinnae, 30 to 40 very small leaflets. Seeds: 4 to 5 inch long hard, flat, velvety, brown seedpods Found: Mainly in the Chihuahuan desert: USA (Texas, southeastern New Mexico), Mexico (Hidalgo, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, Veracruz). A low water use landscaping plant in the Phoenix and Tucson areas. Elevation: 1,000 to 3,000 Feet. Habitat: Ornamental in lower elevations or Arizona. Introduced from Texas and Mexico. Miscellaneous: Photos Taken October 11, 2006. Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Not native to Arizona.