Neltuma glandulosa
honey mesquite
southwestern United States and northern Mexico
Overview
Neltuma glandulosa, long known as Prosopis glandulosa, is a deciduous, thorny tree in the Fabaceae growing 20-30 feet (6-9 m) tall with an open, spreading crown often as wide as the tree is tall. The bipinnate leaves carry narrow leaflets 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) long on drooping branches armed with straight spines up to 2 inches (5 cm). Fragrant, pale yellow flowers form cylindrical catkins 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) long in spring and again after summer rain, maturing into slender, constricted seed pods 4-8 inches (10-20 cm) long that ripen tan over hard seeds. The tree sends down a taproot reaching far below the surface, which lets it survive long drought but makes it hard to remove once established. It seeds heavily and resprouts from the base after cutting, forming dense thickets on overgrazed range. Hardy in USDA zones 7-11, it grows in full sun and tolerates poor, alkaline, and saline soils, fixing nitrogen through root nodules. Native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, Neltuma glandulosa is grown for shade, erosion control, and wildlife forage, and its wood is used for fuel and for smoking food.
Native Range
Neltuma glandulosa is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, from Kansas and Texas west to California and south into the Chihuahuan Desert. It grows on plains, grasslands, desert washes, and overgrazed rangeland.Suggested Uses
Grown as a shade and street tree in hot, dry regions, for erosion control on disturbed ground, and as a source of wildlife forage and firewood. The thorns and pod litter suit open, rural sites rather than tidy lawns.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height20' - 30'
Width/Spread20' - 30'
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 8-12 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 glandulosa grows in full sun and tolerates poor, rocky, alkaline, and saline soils with a pH of 6.5-8.5. Established trees draw on a deep taproot and need no supplemental water in arid climates, while young trees grow faster with occasional deep watering. The species tolerates heat and reflected light but is damaged by hard freezes below about 0 F (-18 C). It resprouts after cutting and seeds heavily, so it can spread into surrounding ground. It needs no fertilizer, since root nodules fix their own nitrogen.Pruning
Prune in winter while the tree is dormant to raise the canopy and remove crossing or dead branches. Cutting the trunk prompts vigorous resprouting from the base. Clearing fallen seed pods reduces unwanted seedlings.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
winter