Parkinsonia microphylla

Common Names

Foothills Palo Verde, Yellow Palo Verde, Little Leaf Palo Verde, Foothill Paloverde, Yellow Paloverde, Little-Leaved Palo Verde

Summary

Foothill Palo Verde, also known as Yellow Paloverde or Littleleaf Palo Verde, is a small to medium desert tree native to the Sonoran Desert of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. It typically grows 12–25 ft tall and wide, with an upright to spreading, multi‑branched form and often spiny stems; green bark conducts photosynthesis to support leafless growth. Leaves are tiny pinnately compound with 4–8 leaflets and are shed in drought, leaving a distinctive leafless silhouette; pale yellow flowers appear at branch tips in spring, followed by green legume pods about 4–8 cm long. The plant is well suited to full sun and very low water, growing on rocky slopes, bajadas, and plains from near sea level to several thousand feet; hardy to about 17°F and suitable for USDA zones 8b–10, with a long lifespan and drought tolerance.

Cultivation and practical use: thrives in full sun with well‑drained soils (rocky, gravelly, sandy) and tolerance for alkaline pH; avoid heavy clay. Establishment requires deep watering for 18–24 months; after establishment, 6–10 inches of rainfall annually suffices; once established, very low irrigation (max 1x/month in summer) is often adequate. Pruning is minimal and should be limited due to spines. Propagation is by seed, with acid scarification 30–60 minutes, then sow immediately. Landscape uses include xeriscape and native plant gardens, parking‑lot plantings, erosion control, shade, and naturalizing; it also attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, providing wildlife forage from pods and seeds.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

12-25 ft

Spread

15-25 ft

Hardiness Zones

Zones 8-10

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun.

Soil Type

Well-drained, dry, rocky or sandy/gravelly soil with low organic content; pH 5.6–8.5; avoid heavy clay.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

7.0-8.5, neutral or basic

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Time

Spring (late March–May)

Foliage Color

Green to yellow-green

Fall Foliage Color

No fall foliage color; leaves drop in fall.

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Slow

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Air layering, Aerial cuttings, Basal cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, other pollinators, birds