Littleleaf Palo Verde, Foothill Palo Verde, Yellow Palo Verde (or Paloverde)        sir-SID-ee-um mi-krow-FIE-lum

• Drought-deciduous shrub or small tree, slow-growing, to 25 ft (7.6 m) tall, about half or more wide, irregular shape, often multi-stemmed and low branched, spiny, ascending and spreading branches, trunk may reach 0.3 m in diameter, bark is smooth, thin, greenish and photosynthetic.  Leaves alternate, pinnately compound (even), 3-6.5 cm long; leaflets minute, yellow-green, in pairs (leafless most of the year).  Flowers usually cream-white, small (about 12 mm), in 3 cm long clusters.  Fruits 4-8 cm long flat pods, often ending in a spine, 1-5 seeds (edible when young and green), constrictions between the seeds.
• Sun, well-drained soil, little or no additional water required after establishment, although summer irrigation increases growth rate and leaf retention.  May be afflicted with root borers and mistletoe.
• Hardy to USDA Zone 8b     Native range through central and southwestern Arizona, a few populations in southeastern California, and extending southward through Sonora and Baja California, Mexico.  Most often found on rocky slopes of the foothills of desert mountains.