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Jerusalem thorn
Parkinsonia aculeata
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| Jerusalem Thorn is an ornamental noted for its
striking yellow flowers and unusual foliage that give a hazy appearance to any landscape. |
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Leaves
Jerusalem thorn leaves are compound, small and
strap-like, resembling floppy, narrow feathers.
Flowers
Flowers are clustered, yellow, and pea-like. Appear in spring and summer
Fruit
The fruit of the Jerusalem thorn is
hard, brown pods 3-4 inches in length
Bark/Branches
The green bark and branches are armed
with thorns, up to an inch in length.
Propagation
Propagation is best by seed.
Jerusalem thorn produces two kinds of seeds within the same pod. About 25% of the light
brown seeds germinate readily. The rest of the light brown seeds and all of the dark brown
seeds have hard seed coats which must be scarified before they will germinate.
Landscape usage
Good for informal landscapes. Use it in a cactus and succulent garden and let its lacy
foliage and slender twigs contrast with the solid blocky shapes of the succulents.
Unaffected by heat, Jerusalem thorn makes a fine street or patio tree and provides a
delicate, filtered shade.
Interesting Facts
Jerusalem-thorn is quite adapted to desert life. In fact, this
species has been used to revegetate desertified regions in Africa and Pakistan.
Instead of using leaves, the Jerusalem thorn produces its food within the photosynthetic
tissue of the bark, which conserves water.
Native Americans harvested the seeds of Jerusalem thorn which
they sun dried for storage and parched over dry heat before eating. |
