Neltuma spp.
mesquites
Arid Americas: southwestern US, Mexico, Central and South America
Overview
Neltuma spp. is a genus of thorny shrubs and small trees in the pea family (Fabaceae), made up of mesquite species recently split from Prosopis spp., native to the arid Americas. Plants grow 6 to 50 ft (2 to 15 m) tall, with an open, often crooked crown, paired spines on the twigs, and finely divided bipinnate leaves that cast light, filtered shade. Slender cream to yellow flower spikes, like fuzzy catkins, open in spring and summer and draw bees, followed by long, narrow, straw-colored seed pods 4 to 8 in (10 to 20 cm) long. The pods are sweet and nutritious and have long been ground into meal and fed to livestock and wildlife. Mesquites send down deep taproots, sometimes more than 100 ft (30 m), that reach groundwater and let the trees survive in desert and dry grassland where little else grows; as legumes they also fix nitrogen and enrich the soil. The genus is native to the southwestern United States, Mexico, and dry regions of Central and South America. Several species have been planted across Africa, Australia, and southern Asia, where some have spread and are treated as invasive thorny weeds.
Native Range
Neltuma spp. is native to the arid Americas, from the southwestern United States through Mexico to the dry plains and deserts of Central and South America, including Argentina. It grows in desert scrub, dry grassland, washes, and floodplains where roots can reach deep moisture.Suggested Uses
Neltuma spp. is grown as a drought-tolerant shade and street tree in hot, dry regions, and for its hard, dense wood used in furniture, flooring, fuel, and smoking food. The pods feed livestock and wildlife and are ground into meal, and the flowers support bees for honey.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6' - 50'
Width/Spread10' - 40'
Reaches mature size in approximately 15 years
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
cream to yellowFoliage Description
green to grey-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Neltuma spp. grows in full sun on almost any well-drained soil, from sand to caliche and rocky ground, at pH 6.5 to 8.5, and tolerates heat, drought, and poor fertility once the deep roots are set. It is sensitive to hard frost, with most species hardy in USDA zones 7 to 11, and young plants need protection where winters are cold. The taproot reaches deep moisture, so established trees need little or no irrigation, and excess water produces weak, fast growth. As a legume it fixes nitrogen and needs no feeding. The spreading roots and self-sown seedlings let it colonize open ground, which is why it has become invasive in some regions.Pruning
Lower branches and crossing limbs are removed in winter to raise the crown and form a single-trunked tree. The paired thorns make pruning slow and hazardous. Suckers and seedlings around the base are cut to limit spread.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
winter