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Olneya_tesota - Gray.

Common Name Desert ironwood, Ironwood
Family Fabaceae or Leguminosae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Desert washes below 600 metres[71].
Range South-western N. America - California to Arizona and Mexico.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Olneya_tesota Desert ironwood, Ironwood


G.A. Cooper @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Olneya_tesota Desert ironwood, Ironwood
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Rufous-crowned_Sparrow

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: Lavender. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Late spring. Form: Spreading or horizontal.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of lolypop
Olneya_tesota is a TREE growing to 9 m (29ft 6in) at a medium rate. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Seed - raw or cooked[46, 61, 105, 161]. A similar taste to peanuts[2].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

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Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

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PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.
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PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

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Other Uses

Wood - very hard, it can blunt a saw[161].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Screen, Specimen, Street tree. 257362 This species requires an almost frost-free climate. Special Features:Attracts birds, North American native, Fragrant flowers, Attractive flowers or blooms.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed -

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: United States (Arizona (s. & s.w.), California (southeast)), Mexico (Baja California (Norte), Baja California Sur, Sonora)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Olneya tesotaDesert ironwood, IronwoodTree9.0 0-0 MLMHSNM202

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Gray.

Botanical References

71

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

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