Lysiloma

( lye - sil - LOO - mah )

At-A-Glance Information

Commonly known as Wild Tamarind, Feather Bush, Fern of the Desert, or Sabicu, this genus is comprised of species of shrubs and trees that need full sun and do not require formal irrigation to survive in the garden, making them perfect for xeriscapes. They form a canopy of finely cut green leaves similar to those of Acacia species, and masses of creamy white puffball flowers appear in late spring to early summer. Blossoms emit a sweet, pleasant fragrance that naturally scents the air and are followed by brown seedpods. Lysiloma shrubs are evergreen in frost-free areas, and deciduous elsewhere. Use these plants as overstory trees, to provide filtered shade, as patio trees, as wildlife or pollinator plants, or for providing shade in desert-style of drought-tolerant gardens. 

Lysiloma Species and Varietals

Lysiloma is a genus of just eight species, and is a member of the plant family Fabaceae. Plants in this genus are closely related to those in Albizia (Silk Tree), Acacia (Wattles), and Mimosa (Sensitive Plant). These shrubs and trees grow best in USDA hardiness zones 9-11 or Sunset growing zones 12-24, H1 and H2. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Lysiloma candidum (Palo Blanco, White Stick, White Wood)
These trees are endemic to Baja California, Mexico, and produce fragrant creamy-white rounded clusters of flowers that bloom between the months of March and May. Flowers are followed by red bean-like pods. It is a slender tree with silvery white bark that reaches up to 33 feet tall when mature. Foliage is bipinnately compound and leaves are tiny and grey-green to blue-green.

Lysiloma divaricatum (Mauto, Quitaz, Tepemesquite, Quebracho, Quebracho negro, Tepemisque, Yaje, Littleleaf Lysiloma)
This species forms a small to medium-sized tree with a dense branching structure and an open, spreading crown. Individual trees can reach up to 50 feet tall when mature. The species is native to an area that spans from northern Mexico down to Costa Rica, and is associated with mixed pine forests and desert scrubland. White puffball flowers bloom in mid-spring through summer.

Lysiloma latisiliquum (False Tamarind, Wild Tamarind, Bahama Lysiloma, Tzalam, Salom)
Native to southern Florida, the Bahamas, Cuba, southern Mexico, and Belize, these trees produce timber known as Sabicu wood. Flowers are puffball-form and white with pinkish centers, fading to make way for reddish-brown legume pods. Foliage is ferny. Individual trees reach up to 40 to 60 feet tall (at maximum 80 feet tall), and have a spread of between 30 and 50 feet. 
 
Lysiloma watsonii (Feather Bush, Fern of the Desert, Mexican Palo Verde, Littleleaf Leadtree)
This species is native to Arizona and Mexico. Individual shrubby trees reach 12-15 feet tall and just as wide, producing ferny green foliage and white powder-puff flower heads followed by brown to reddish brown seed pods. They can be multi-trunked or single-trunked, and are perfect for smaller drought-tolerant landscapes.

Caring for Lysiloma

Plant Lysiloma shrubs and trees in a space in the landscape that receives full sun; ideally, they appreciate between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day for the best blooms and overall growth rate. Ensure that soil is well-draining and has a pH of between 6.1 and 9.0 (slightly acidic to alkaline). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with rocks, sand, or organic matter. Sandy or gravelly soils are ideal, and these plants can tolerate soils that are low in nutrients. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, these plants are considered very drought tolerant, able to get by on rainwater alone for most of the year with supplemental deep waterings during extended periods of drought. As a general rule of thumb, allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings. 

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. Pruning is simple; remove any damaged, diseased, or dead foliage at any time during the growing season, and remove spent flower spikes to neaten up the appearance of plants and encourage reblooms. Prune minimally to remove dead or damaged branches. Shape minimally after flowers fade if needed to maintain a tidy appearance. Lysiloma trees and shrubs can be expected to survive in the landscape for 30 to 50 years or more before needing to be replaced. They are well-adapted to hot, arid climates and well-draining soils, and their longevity can be shortened by severe frost damage, overwatering, or root rot.

Propagation

The easiest way to propagate Mexican Palo Verde is through collecting and planting its seeds. See the instructions below for more information:​

Propagating Lysiloma by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
  2. Harvest your seeds. The seed pods on are pretty easy to spot, they're large and dangle from the branches, left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will begin to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
  3. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  4. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Problems and Pests

These plants are not generally prone to any pests or diseases. For a list of commonly encountered pests and diseases in the garden, consult the following pages:
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Gallery

These eye-catching trees are great for small front yard areas.
The wispy foliage of these shrubs really contrasts well against buildings and rocks.
The seed pods left behind after flowers fade can be left on the shrub, or taken off to neaten the appearance and discourage self-sowing.

Videos

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Resources

Lysiloma watsonii
Wikipedia: Lysiloma
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 425, Lysiloma watsonii