That'd be an ironwood tree, nice color out in the middle of the desert!

Kevin

around here that could also be smoke tree. Small tree, seldom over 15 feet tall with gray / white bark.

Ironwood trees are found only in the Sonoran Desert below 2,500 feet and are most common along dry ephemeral washes where they provide a fertile and sheltered habitat. In late April and into May they explode into masses of color as their sweet-pea like blossoms appear. Their ghost-like bark, gray-green leaflets, lavender-pink flowers and stately presence have captured my heart.

As a tree matures, it modifies the environment beneath it, creating a micro-habitat with less direct sunlight, reduced surface temperatures, increased organic matter, more available water, and protection from herbivores. The ironwood's leaf litter supplies nitrogen to the soil and its seeds provide a protein-rich resource for doves, quail, coyotes, and many small rodents. It is often called the 'nurse tree' of the desert and is referred to as a keystone species or those who "enrich their ecosystem in a unique and significant manner, and the effect is disproportionate to their numerical abundance." The ironwood is one of the largest and longest-lived Sonoran Desert plants, growing 45 feet tall and living as long as 1,500 years.

Ironwoods make great landscape trees. They will compete with trees like the blue palo verde, growing about 2/3 as fast. If you are considering creating an urban wildlife habitat, the ironwood is a perfect choice. Because they drop a relatively small amount of litter, it makes them a perfect choice for poolside landscapes.

Ironwood Trivia: Ancient Hohokam made digging sticks of durable ironwood to retrieve tuberous roots. The seeds of Olneya tesota have been used for food by native Americans for centuries. Fresh, uncooked seeds are said to have a taste similar to soybeans or peanuts. The Seri Indians of Sonora, Mexico, cooked the seeds in water, rinsing twice, and ate them whole, or ground and salted. Roasted seeds have been used as a substitute for coffee. The wood is so dense that it will not float, and so hard that it has been used for bearings. Dead trees can remain standing for a millennium. One cubic foot of ironwood can weigh up to 66 pounds. The state's largest known ironwood occurs in Child's Valley in western Pima County.

Wow! I loved all that wonderful information about the ironwood. So are you saying that even though it grows to 45ft....it is still a good tree for the suburban landscape? I need a good tree for my small back yard and have not found one I like yet.

Are there smaller varieties of the Ironwood? I'd love to have one but its too big!