The blue palo verde is native to the Sonoran Desert and is commonly found in and around washes. It usually only reaches heights of about 25 feet and is a fairly short lived tree, rarely exceeding 100 years. Like other members of the Parkinsonia genus, it has green stems that perform photosynthesis and small, five-petaled pea like flowers. This tree is drought deciduous, meaning it will lose all its leaves in dry periods. It is a common xeriscaping plant and is found all over Tucson.
