Xeriscape Landscaping Plants For The Arizona Desert Environment
Pictures, Photos, And Information, Trees

Tenaza Prieto Acacia, Acacia schaffneri

Tenaza Prieto Acacia, Acacia schaffneri, October 11, 2006. Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Twisted Acacia Leaves Acacia schaffneri	Tenaza Prieto Acacia Leaf Acacia schaffneri

Tenaza Prieto Acacia Acacia schaffneri Pea Family ( Fabaceae ) ( Leguminosae ) Tenaza Prieto Acacia: Also called; Twisted Acacia, Huizache Chino, Medusa Acacia, Shaffner's Acacia. Acacia schaffneri (Twisted Acacia) is native to Mexico and south Texas. It has a branching structure with a twisting pattern within the tree branches. The leaves are very small, fine fern like with straight 1/2 to 1 inch reddish thorns. In spring it has yellow fragrant ball flowers along the branching structure. A young tree will need selective structural pruning until established. Twisted Acacia spreads thorny branches low to the ground. Birds and small mammals use Twisted Acacia as a canopy for nesting roosting and protection. Other common uses include xeriscape landscapeing. Height: Up To 15 - 25 feet tall and 25 feet wide. Bark: Gray brown bark with a few small prickles. Trunk: 3 to 8 inches in diameter. Flowers: Yellow, ball-shaped flowers, up to 2/5 inches in diameter, very fragrant. Blooming Time: March - April. Leaves: Grayish green, fern-like, bipinnately compound leaves, 4 to 6 inches long, 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), into Oaxaca Mexico. 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.