Palo Verde trees should grow very well along the Gulf Coast. I live in Central Georgia and I know of several trees including my own thriving outdoors.

I live down here in south Texas and it does great, but it is referred to by the common name of retama. I had never heard of them when I lived in Houston, but they are all over down here. Our soil is more akaline than the Houston area. Here is some information on the retama.