Beginner
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Prosopis alba (South American mesquite)
Comment on a listing
Plant supplier links
- Login to upload a photo
1 hour care
per year
per year
12m
Max height
Max height
12m
Max spread
Max spread
10-20 years
To maturity
To maturity
Low
Toxicity
Toxicity
Plant details
Botanical name
Prosopis alba
Other names
South American mesquite, Argentine mesquite, Algarrobo blanco, Algarrobo panta, Colorado mesquite, Colorado mesquite
Genus
Prosopis Prosopis
Species
P. alba - P. alba is a tender, upright to spreading, thorny, deciduous to semi-evergreen tree with pinnate leaves divided into linear, closely spaced, blue-green leaflets and spikes of yellow-green flowers followed by long, twisted, pale brown seed pods.
Prosopis alba is: Deciduous
Habit
Open branches, Spreading
Toxicity
Trees have spines. Handle carefully.
Flower
Pale-yellow in Spring
Foliage
Blue-green in Spring; Blue-green in Summer; Blue-green in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
General care
Pruning
Pruning group 1.
Propagation methods
Stem tip cuttings, Seed
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Prosopis alba (South American mesquite) will reach a height of 12m and a spread of 12m after 10-20 years.
Suggested uses
Rock, Mediterranean, Gravel, Drought Tolerant, Coastal, City, Beds and borders
Cultivation
In frost-free areas, grow in well-drained sand or loam in full sun. Tolerates heat, drought, and saline conditions once established. Site carefully as this tree produces considerable litter when seed pods fall. Considered an invasive species in many introduced areas.
Soil type
Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Indoor heated (H1), Tender in frost (H3)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Prosopis alba
Other names
South American mesquite, Argentine mesquite, Algarrobo blanco, Algarrobo panta, Colorado mesquite, Colorado mesquite
Genus
Prosopis Prosopis
Species
P. alba - P. alba is a tender, upright to spreading, thorny, deciduous to semi-evergreen tree with pinnate leaves divided into linear, closely spaced, blue-green leaflets and spikes of yellow-green flowers followed by long, twisted, pale brown seed pods.
Native to
Argentina
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Open branches, Spreading
Toxicity
Trees have spines. Handle carefully.
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Flower
Pale-yellow in Spring
Foliage
Blue-green in Spring; Blue-green in Summer; Blue-green in Autumn
General care
Pruning
Pruning group 1.
Propagation methods
Stem tip cuttings, Seed
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Prosopis alba (South American mesquite) will reach a height of 12m and a spread of 12m after 10-20 years.
Suggested uses
Rock, Mediterranean, Gravel, Drought Tolerant, Coastal, City, Beds and borders
Cultivation
In frost-free areas, grow in well-drained sand or loam in full sun. Tolerates heat, drought, and saline conditions once established. Site carefully as this tree produces considerable litter when seed pods fall. Considered an invasive species in many introduced areas.
Soil type
Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Indoor heated (H1), Tender in frost (H3)
USDA zones
Zone 11, Zone 10, Zone 9
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Loamy, Sandy | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Exposed, Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Indoor heated (H1), Tender in frost (H3) | Tell us... |
Report content or feedback to Shoot
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login