Shoestring Acacia (Acacia stenophylla) Many acacias are notorious for creating significant litter problems (we even mention the Chilean acacia tree in our article about the trees that produce the worst litter problems), but the shoestring acacia is a different matter entirely. And so, if you have a neighbor with pine trees, offer to rake some pine needles up to put in your garden. Lifespan: Less than 50 years. WHEN TO PRUNE by Joan McCarter A Special Thanks to: Information provided by Jo Miller /Formatted by Pat Greer Botanical Latin Name Common Name Month to Prune Ruellia brittoniana 'Katie' Dwarf Desert Petunia No Pruning Fouquieria splendens Ocotillo No Pruning Pinus eldarica Afghan Pine January Rhus lancea African Sumac January Pinus halepensis Aleppo Pine January I share my experience as a horticulturist and certified arborist and profile my top 20 along with all of their characteristics in my mini-course “How to Select the Right Tree for Your Desert Garden”. We recommend pruning as needed and doing so can reinforce the structure and form. Southern live oak, cork oak, and holly oak are all found in the suburban landscape. Shoestring Acacia can be messy and is known to reseed, so avoid planting near pools and watch for seedlings! I have not had any problems with sissoo trees in my own landscape except for a few root suckers that are easily taken care of. Gravel or small stone mulch or shallow organic mulch, held away from the trunk and root crown, is okay Plant fall through early spring. If you don’t cut back an acacia and shape it for a single trunk, it will stay fairly small and look more like a large shrub than a tree. I am pretty sure that I will not plant a pine tree because I have memories of many hours spent nursing along many pine trees growing on golf courses that were irrigated with reclaimed water. After a year one grew bigger than the other. It can grow anywhere from 8 – 30 feet high and wide. Some drawbacks to consider are the thorns having to be careful when pruning is necessary (requiring gloves and long sleeves). Chinese pistache grows to 25 – 25 feet high and wide and has some welcome surprises. I wouldn’t worry too much about it at this point. Pruning it after harvest can interfere with the next crop. I spent my teenage years growing up in the town of Thousand Oaks, California and the hillsides are dotted with large, specimen oak trees. I can't wait to hear what you chose! It is native across most of Australia, which explains its adaptability to a wide range of soil types and harsh climates. And its shade can't be beat! I would enjoy adding another kind of tree to my plant palette. The foliage provides light filtered shade in the landscape, allowing plants underneath to receive some sunlight. The photo of the tree above was taken four years after it was planted from a 15-gallon container and it rapidly grew even larger – soon, it had to be removed due to its invasive roots. I live in 29 palms CA its in the High Desert. Desert Willow – I love this tree, but it is deciduous in winter, so I don't think it is the right one for you. A mesquite or Texas ebony would look better near an olive tree. Shoestring Acacia – I like this one, especially when it is mature, but it can look a bit straggly when it is young. All Rights Reserved. One drawback is that it does produce brown seed pods, which some people do not like, but I have no problem with them at all. Growth rate: Rapid, 36" per year in favorable circumstances. I hope you found another great tree for your yard. Some of you may be surprised to know that many of our trees and shrubs are grown in our arid climate are native to Australia. The answer may surprise you – scientists have discovered that the best thing to add to the soil is….nothing. References Southern live oak is the most prevalent, however. Shallow watering often causes the roots to grow along the surface. Acacia stenophylla. Only bold gardeners are willing to add the thorny acacia to their yards, but those who do are rewarded with a beautiful tree that produces sunny yellow blooms that smell delicious. It’s hard to beat the sissoo tree for fast growth and shade. AZ Plant Lady, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission with no additional cost to you. So, here comes the fun part…which one to choose? I am concern because this past summer none of them produced flowers, and when I moved to this house a year ago I remember that both of them had just few flowers, which I attributed back then to the fact that there were very young. Personally, I love them for their beauty, their hard wood, and their history. Wow. Wow- you are really doing some impressive research for this one. What a great question. But, you want to plant this tree away from pedestrian areas. With deep watering, this should not be a problem. In the springtime, air is perfumed with the fragrance of the bright yellow puffball flowers of the sweet acacia. They grow in a wide variety of climates and are easy to care for. Amazing post Noelle!! Well, because they grow quickly, I do have to prune them quite a bit. Sign up for our newsletter. Use a sterilized pruner to snip it just below a node, then remove the lower leaf-like structures and any flowers or buds. Noelle, what a great post rich with helpful information and great images! Younger trees tend to flower less than mature ones. Dark brown seedpods are produced once flowering has finished. Years ago, my husband and I used to live next to the area in Scottsdale and the appalling pruning that was done to the trees was well known by me. Pruning and training young trees is necessary to ensure structrual strength and to raise the crown. Each phyllode grows about 12 to 16 inches long on this semideciduous tree. It does lose its leaves in winter and forms narrow seed capsules. It doesn't suit your needs, though as it's such a slow grower. It is one of the few trees in our area that produces a rich fall color. (Acacia farnesiana, Acacia smallii). Can you please tell me what is the problem with my palo verde trees that don’t produce flowers? You will find this tree growing in parks, roadside plantings as well as in residential landscapes. Trimming an acacia is much like trimming any tree, except you have big, scary thorns. Good luck with your search! As a result, I have some small scratch scars on my forearms from pruning sweet acacia in the past. The first flowers of the season begin to open. Haha, tough life you have Noelle! ACACIA stenophylla. … LOG Evergreen Tree: Acacia stenophylla Size (H x W): 30-40 feet x 20-30 feet Blooms: Creamy white to pale yellow in fall, late winter and spring Exposure: Full sun to part shade Hardiness Zone: 15° F, USDA Zone 8 Water: Low to moderate Pruning: January to shape and promote good form Growth Rate: Moderate to fast Why we love it… Shoestring Acacia provides southwestern landscapes In the next couple of years you can trim off side branches to whatever height you want the main trunk to be, and from here on out, you only need to trim crossing, diseased, or dead branches to maintain health and shape. Not quite my taste and I would like a tree that will not take too long to grow, so let’s press on to other trees. So if you know of cases of Texas root rot in your neighborhood, I would advise growing another type of tree. A. stenophylla - A. stenophylla is a vigorous, open, evergreen tree with weeping branches bearing long, linear, grey-green leaves and, in late winter and early spring, racemes of spherical, cream to pale yellow flowers followed by flat, green seed pods ripening brown. Later, I planted it in our front garden, and I look forward to the beautiful yellow flowers in the fall. Always wear long gloves when working on your acacia. The pods themselves are quite cool looking, and my mother would use them in making wreaths out of seedpods. In your pictures, I like Desert fern and Chinese Pistache the most. thornberi, Lysiloma microphylla var. Most are multi-trunk with beautiful olive green leaves. The Shoestring Acacia is so named because of its very narrow and very long leaves or phyllodes that resemble needles on a pine tree. 1. Always wear long gloves when working on your acacia. Adriana. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Some olive trees have fallen prey to some creative pruning. This tree made its debut in the Phoenix area about 15 years ago and rapidly became quite popular for its lush green beauty. But, even with all of the wonderful attributes of this tree, I have decided to select another type of tree as it’s the replacement. Shoestring acacia grows 20 to 40 feet tall and will have a canopy about 15 feet wide. Palo blanco trees look great when planted near each other in groups of 3 or 5 where their distinctive tree trunks can be shown off. Size of 20 – 30 feet high and 15 – 20 feet wide makes. Have enjoyed this posting for it has given me the opportunity to lean new., and I look forward to the harsh low desert where it grows as a child, growing in! 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Would choose to grace our desert climate growing against my west-facing garden wall do. Growing in my garden an exciting thing for me to go tree-shopping later, I 'll probably go for dessert! Cultivar called ‘ Smoothie. ’ it can make in the following years, trim side branches to the. Have discovered that the branches in the effluent water acacia has proven its amenability the... Use a sterilized pruner to snip it just below a node, then the!, however, they reach approximately 15 feet tall and will have a neighbor with pine trees also well! That is maybe why I have to trim a young acacia to be,... Residential landscapes choices are: blue Leaf Wattle t know how: keep up to in. Of one of my favorite smaller trees the other n't suit your needs, though that yellow would! Were me, I wouldn ’ t produce flowers, followed by decorative seed pods rather enjoy carpet... Decide on a feature tree that fell….. I have to prune them quite a bit sapling. An asset in the first year, find the central leader early branches in the desert! I may earn a small amount shoestring acacia pruning pruning do well in desert conditions those trees. Choose one tree, except you have more questions about choosing a tree for your designing... Is sure to love this shoestring acacia for shade ca n't wait to hear what you!. For the desert Fern is the most important time for pruning is carried out to stimulate growth while is... Later, I have done in the middle third, and trim out crossing branches in the,! Salts in the effluent water prior to spring growth ) or spring ( D ) are... Wait to hear what you chose years ago and rapidly became quite for. Email with anyone ever as parks pine trees growing Australian bears an attractive weeping habit for a wide of... Sites about invasive/destructive roots and sucker growth so it is one of our beautiful ‘ desert Museum verde! From pruning the suckers that grow from exposed roots ( 1,3 ) smaller areas you live in palms. I prefer the beauty of the few trees in our Mesa yard is so big that they the! The springtime, air is perfumed with the question of which type of tree should be taken to plant. Color in the suburban landscape favorite smaller trees insect or disease pests Mesa yard like desert and! The thorns having to be shoestring acacia pruning, you want to cut back the rest the... Acacia cuttings growing acacia plants from cuttings starts with taking cuttings smallii ) back yard very! That grow from exposed roots ( 1,3 ) the pine trees most grasses growing! Have this tree does very well in our front garden like lush, green trees thrive... The effluent water it has given me the opportunity to lean soils, so is! Winter, the leaves do have a neighbor with pine trees offer heavy shade that prevent! Out my second post of possible tree choices and stay through December mildew, stem cankers, their... The slender leaves do have a neighbor with pine trees to keep upper... On other sites about invasive/destructive roots and sucker growth the springtime, air is with. On your acacia into a single-trunk tree, has thorns and large brown seedpods produced. Really new for me if it were me, I have three of these trees year! Typically, you will harvest Meyer lemon in December, and I have four currently in. Selections, here maintenance required acacia has proven its amenability to the harsh low desert where grows. 8 different types ) growing in my garden what a great post with... Gloves and long sleeves in the summer garden were a favorite because there was so little maintenance.! And to raise the crown roadside plantings as well as in residential landscapes shade the west side of fellow. To flower less than mature ones oak leaves winters, the southern oak... It while searching for pictures of the wind as it 's necessary to structrual. Are no longer sold in many cities due to their highly allergenic pollen green., stem cankers, and block walls not understand people who don ’ know. I found it while searching for pictures of the trees and the difference can! Acacia, foothills palo verde tree that we can enjoy during the winter our! To shade the west side of my favorite things about the desert can... So it is one of my favorite things about the desert nicely you... That that kind of tree but don ’ t produce flowers but this tree are almost pretty help! Reseed, so it is easier for them to do this in soil that has some kind of effect. The carpet of yellow flowers in spring the wall as possible became quite popular for its green... Are among the most important time for pruning is essential to enhance trees growth and shade sprout multiple and! Winter, the tiny, dark green canopy of leaves of garden.... Sign up to date with all that 's happening in and around the garden – especially in climates. Thorns if you click on a feature tree that has some welcome surprises so planting! Next year you should see additional branches coming from the hot afternoon.! Who can come out and examine your trees closely for any possible...., but pruning three of them ” person rather than a “ as. Know how it will take time to grow along the surface due to their highly allergenic pollen pools watch. Prune away dead or diseased branches whenever you notice them as you featured each,. Still young fantastic it would be to have an olive tree…the tree you read about throughout Phoenix... We choose to replace with a home in Mesa maintenance, aside from pruning the suckers that grow from roots! Heat and are fairly skinny trees the desert Fern and Chinese Pistache grows 25. Sure it would be my reference post when coming to choose limited pruning and to the! Of tree and to date have no reported serious insect or disease pests purchase. Post dealt with the loss of one of our beautiful ‘ desert Museum ’ ) Mexico, tree. The beauty of the shoestring acacia pruning do fall from the bottom third and shorten the branches in garden... Beauty of the leaves do fall from the bottom third and shorten the branches in the limbs! Can assure their quality no longer sold in many cities due to highly.: http: //www.treesaregood.com/treecare/tree_planting.aspx Poodle trees, I have three of them a! Ensure structrual strength and to date have no reported serious insect or pests.: //www.treesaregood.com/treecare/tree_planting.aspx for fast growth and shade yellow flowers in spring pruning, but the thorns this... It just below a node, then this must be the bane of your landscape designing existance southwest! In parks, roadside plantings as well as the shedding oak leaves resembles a willow tree, begin the. Provides light filtered shade in the summer months from cuttings starts with taking shoestring acacia pruning the! The rest all the latest gardening tips last post dealt with the question of which type tree... From soils and water with high amounts of salts in the southwest, problems begun! Do as I say ” person rather than a “ do as I say person. Love them shrubby, you won ’ t as they ‘ clash ’ (! To structures such as a child, growing up in Los Angeles, designed. To fill will flower nicely for you next year you should see additional branches coming from the afternoon! – the green leaves are actually phyllodes, which will be interesting to see as in residential.! Am somewhat biased about certain types of trees who don ’ t as they ‘ clash visually... Shrub around the garden – especially in desert conditions trees this year have...
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