Texas Paloverde
Parkinsonia texana
Last reviewed: September 2026
Parkinsonia texana, or Texas paloverde, is a small thorny tree of dry brushland and rocky slopes in South Texas. It blooms yellow from March through August and thrives in full sun with little supplemental water.
Toxicity unknown
Texas Paloverde (Parkinsonia texana) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
360"–480" H × 144"–240" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug
Native to
TX
Pollinators
butterflies, hummingbirds, nectar insects
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Texas Paloverde is a distinctive native tree with a spreading canopy and green bark that remains photosynthetic year-round. It produces abundant yellow flowers from spring through summer and has small, drought-deciduous leaves. This desert-adapted tree thrives in hot, dry conditions and poor soils.
Growing Texas Paloverde
Grow Texas Paloverde in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 360 to 480 inches tall and spread 144 to 240 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Texas Paloverde takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Tree size exceeds typical HOA-friendly range
Wildlife value
The long blooming period attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and various nectar-feeding insects from March through August. Seeds provide food for birds and small mammals.
Common questions
- What does Texas paloverde look like?
- Parkinsonia texana is a small, often multi-trunked tree with smooth green bark, fine feathery leaflets, and short spines along the branches. Its yellow flowers appear in loose clusters.
- When does Texas paloverde bloom?
- This tree typically flowers from March through August, with the heaviest bloom usually in spring and early summer depending on rainfall.
- What pollinators visit Texas paloverde flowers?
- The flowers attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and various nectar-seeking insects, making it a useful plant for pollinator gardens in warm, dry climates.
- How much water does Texas paloverde need once established?
- It is a low-water tree adapted to arid brush country and rocky, well-drained soils, so it generally does not need irrigation once established.
- What growing conditions suit Texas paloverde best?
- It grows best in full sun on well-drained, rocky or sandy soils typical of dry brushland and thorn scrub habitats.
- Is Texas Paloverde HOA-friendly?
- Texas Paloverde takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Texas Paloverde? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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