Several years ago we bought a
Palo Verde (Desert Museum hybrid) tree from Kniffings and planted it in our front yard, next to our hummingbird feeders. We'd read that the blooms attract hummingbirds, and the twiggy aspect of it seemed like it would make good perches for them. It's a native to arid regions with high drainage, so it should do fine in our yard even without irrigation.
We can report now that on all counts the Palo Verde excels. It's thriving – growing faster than the references say it should, and putting on quite a show with its flowers for several months out of the year. Right now it's in prime:
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| It's about 12 feet tall now. The tall trees behind the gazebo are 50' to 60' tall eucalyptus... |
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| Standing next to a branch, when you look down you see the branch covered with blooms, and the ground littered with the earlier blossoms... |
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| Get down on your knees, and you see a carpet of dessicated petals... |
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| Thousands upon thousands of these right now, visited frequently by hummingbirds, bees, and big fat black bumblebees... |
