The Desert Museum Palo Verde (Cercidium 'Desert Museum') is a remarkable tree that stands out in any landscape. Noted for its attractively sprawling yellow-green branches and profuse yellow flowers in spring and summer.
The 'Desert Museum' cultivar traces its roots to three other Palo Verde species that are native to desert areas of California and other areas of the Southwest. It is a highly resilient choice for low-water landscapes, especially farther inland from the coast.
One of the most distinguishing features of the Palo Verde 'Desert Museum' is its striking green bark. Unlike typical deciduous trees that solely rely on their leaves for energy-producing photosynthesis, the bark of this tree also performs this function, allowing it to conserve water and thrive in harsh desert conditions throughout the year.
The Desert Museum Palo Verde has delicate, tiny frond-shaped foliage, which provides a light, airy canopy that sprawls from a standard or multi-trunk form. As a specimen tree, it creates dappled shade for outdoor activities, as well as for companion plants that can grow beneath it.
When in bloom in late spring to early summer, the tree is adorned with bright, yellow blossoms in a spectacular display that attracts birds, butterflies, and other pollinators. While it is technically a deciduous tree, it functions more like an evergreen in landscaping applications, as its special form and colors add interest year-round.
Desert Museum Palo Verde is a medium-sized tree, growing 20 to 30 feet tall and wide. It is ideal in urban and residential landscapes, where it can provide shade and beauty without overpowering smaller spaces.
In addition to its attractive appearance, the Desert Museum Palo Verde boasts numerous practical benefits. The tree is resilient to drought, heat, wind, pests, disease, and cold temperatures down to 15 degrees Fahrenheit.
Once established, the Desert Museum Palo Verde tree requires minimal watering, making it a sustainable choice for drought-tolerant, water-wise landscaping. It is adaptable to various soil types, as long as they are well draining.
Desert Museum Palo Verdes do not have the thorns seen on their parent trees and produce less litter than them, making maintenance quite minimal.
Cercidium 'Desert Museum' - Desert Museum Palo Verde Tree Hybrid (Multi-Trunk)
Optimal Growth Conditions
- Mature Height: 20 - 30 feet
- Mature Width: 20 - 30 feet (Canopy)
- Sun: Full Sun
- Water: Very Low, Low
- Soil Drainage: Fast
Geographic Appropriateness
- USDA Zone: Zones 6 - 9
- Sunset Zone: Zones 8 - 14, 18 - 20
- Native Sites: Palo Verde trees are native to desert Creosote Bush Scrub on slopes up to 3000 feet.
Additional Landscaping Information
- Characteristics: California Native, Drought Tolerant, Deciduous, Flowering, Heat Tolerant
- Special Uses: Shade Tree, Specimen Tree, Bird Gardens, Informal Hedge, Rock and Cactus Gardens, Small Spaces