Arid Zone Trees

Foliage: Semi-Deciduous

Mature Height: 20’ - 30’

Mature Width: 20’ - 40’

Growth Rate: Moderate to Fast

Hardiness: 18 degrees F

Exposure: Full Sun

Leaf Color: Green

Shade: Filtered

Flower Color: Yellow

Flower Shape: Funnel Shaped Petals

Flower Season: Spring

Thorns: Yes

Propagation Method: Cloning

Sizes Available: 24”, 36”, 48"

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Cercidium praecox 'AZT' PDF

Cercidium praecox ‘AZT’, Sonoran Palo Verde. These Palo Brea clones have dark blue-green leaves and trunks. They produce brilliant yellow blooms that appear abundantly in spring and intermittently during the summer and fall months. The characteristic that sets these ‘AZT’ clones apart from seed selections is improved cold hardiness to the upper teens to low 20’s F. Whether up-lit to produce dramatic silhouette on walls and hardscapes, exploding with bright yellow spring flowers or adding a rich sculptural quality, Cercidium praecox ‘AZT’, Sonoran Palo Verde brings beauty and desert elegance to the landscape. It is one of the most popular and sought after trees in the arid landscape palette. This popularity is based on the tree's unique natural beauty, displays of bright yellow flowers, smooth green trunks and gracefully interwoven branches. Their strong visual impact makes them ideal as a theme tree for streetscape plantings, as accent trees and as individual specimens in entry monuments or at the focal point of a landscape. With their distinctive visual qualities they can bring a strong unifying look to landscapes and are often used as the theme or dominant tree in large commercial designs and street plantings.

Variety 'AZT':

Arid Zone Trees makes selections from thousands of trees propagated from seed. Only Individual trees having the most desirable physical qualities (branching habits, leaf color, leaf canopy, and flower color) and sound horticultural characteristics (rooting, cold hardiness and growth rate) are selected for further study. These trees are then cloned (vegetatively propagated) and planted at our nursery for evaluation. Only the best of these trees are then placed in cloning production and are designated Variety 'AZT'. Since no one single selection of any desert tree specie is best adapted to all landscape applications, we continually search for new additions to our Variety 'AZT'.

Parkinsonia (Cercidium) praecox 'AZT' is propagated and available exclusively from Arid Zone Trees.

Cultural Practices:

Foster the development of a more dispersed root system and reduce the risk of wind throw by arranging irrigation emitters at varying distances from the trunk to encourage roots to "seek out" water and nutrients. Irrigation emitter arrangement along with other information on irrigations practices for desert trees can be found at Irrigation Practices for Desert Trees.

Prune as needed to reinforce the structure and form of the tree. Periodic thinning is the most desirable method of pruning. Avoid hedging or heading back desert species, as this will only stimulate excessive branching. Do not remove more than 30% of the canopy during the summer as this can lead to sunburn injuries that can later be invaded by wood boring insects. Always use clean, sharp tools that are cleaned regularly in a 10% solution of bleach. For detail pruning guide see Pruning Desert Trees.

Periodically insect pests can be a problem on some desert trees. On young trees, insect infestation can slow typical seasonal growth. Inspect trees during the growing season for common garden sucking insects such as aphids, thrip, whiteflies or psyllids. During dry months, (May and June) in dusty conditions, spider mites can appear. Monitor for infestation and apply controls as needed. Spray applications of water or water and Safer Soap give short-term control (3 to 7 days) for small insect population. For heavy infestation or longer control use federally registered insecticides. A contact insecticide application will kill existing adults. An application with a systemic soil drench will provide 8 to 12 weeks control for any post application insect hatchings or migration of insects. Before using pesticide for the first time or on new plants or cultivar, treat a few plants and check for phytotoxicty. Always read label and follow label instruction before using pesticides. For pesticide control recommendations contact a licensed pest control advisor.