Prosopis juliflora, commonly called honey mesquite, is a deciduous perennial shrubby tree belonging to the legume family, Fabaceae. P. juliflora is native to Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean where it grows in semi-arid to arid conditions. The tree grows up to 20 to 30 feet in height with a 3 to 4 feet diameter at maturity. The leaves are compound bipinnate with small oval leaflets that drop in the dry season or in stress. P. juliflora blooms in late spring to early summer with tiny inconspicuous yellow flowers that are arranged on a cone shaped raceme. Water adequately when soil is dry and allow the soil to dry out before watering again. Prosopis juliflora is a drought tolerant species that thrives in well draining soil and full sun, but will tolerate partial shade. This species is grown for its forage, firewood, and edible seed pods. The sap of the tree has also been used by indigenous people to alleviate coughs and sore throats.
Prosopis juliflora seeds should be pretreated with a light scarification from sandpaper or a file. Scarification significantly reduces germination time and success as the seed coat is hard and waterproof. Simply scratch the outer seed coat with the sandpaper or file to allow water to penetrate. After scarification, soak the seeds in warm water for 24 hours prior to planting. Sow seeds ½ to 1 inch deep into a well draining potting mix. Plant the seeds at least 1-2 inches apart from each other to prevent overcrowding. Keep sown seeds moist, but not soaking wet, and keep humid. Ideal germination temperatures are between 80°F to 90°F. Germination typically takes 2 to 8 weeks to occur. Even with optimal conditions, germination may be slow and sporadic.
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