Varieties Of Mesquite

In the American Southwest, mesquite trees are popular for landscaping, as they are hardy and tolerant of drought. They can draw water from deep in the ground and just as easily use water that is close to the surface. This adaptation works well in the desert, where dry spells are long and the season of heavy rains is short. All mesquite trees produce seed pods to varying degrees, as well as providing shelter for birds and creating shade.

Chilean Mesquite is often as a shade tree because the trees are usually inexpensive and readily available. The trees have a dense, wide canopy. They grow quickly to a size about 25 feet wide and 25 feet tall, yet have a relatively shallow root structure that may even be visible on the ground surface. Over-watering is a danger, since it can cause the tree to grow too quickly and become top-heavy. Once a tree becomes too heavy at the top, the likelihood of it blowing over in a strong wind increases. Chilean mesquite trees may not have thorns at all, or if they do have thorns, the thorns are likely to be smaller than those of other mesquite. Its bark is dark brown. The foliage is nearly evergreen.

The Velvet Mesquite is a native of the Sonoran Desert, one of the largest and hottest deserts in North America that spans much of Arizona, parts of California and the Mexican states of Sonora and Baja California. Velvet Mesquite trees are often in shorter supply and are not usually as good for creating shade as other varieties. They are deep rooted, making them better able to stand up to strong winds. Velvet Mesquite has a canopy that is less dense than the Chilean mesquite. It is slower growing and does not grow as tall. Because the trees are slow growing, they are not inclined to outgrow their roots systems.

Argentine Mesquite has long thorns, the longest of any mesquite tree. In general, it is the fastest-growing variety of mesquite, and the least vulnerable to wind damage. Argentine mesquites lose their leaves, but only for a short season of a few weeks each year. Its bark is dark brown.

A characteristic of Texas Honey Mesquites is its drooping branches. The trees have thorns, and the thorns are long, although the number of thorns tends to be fewer than on other mesquite varieties. This variety drops all of its leaves in winter, allowing winter sunlight to penetrate through its branches. It is a fast-growing tree and provides shade in summer. If a Texas Honey Mesquite is watered too heavily, an excess of heavy growth is likely to occur and its branches may be inclined to split.