Desert Ironwood
Scientific Name: Olneya tesota A. Gray
Classification: Plantae/ Tracheobionta / Spermatophyta / Magnoliophyta / Magnoliopsida / Rosidae / Fabales / Fabaceae / Leguminosae / Olneya A. Gray/ Olneya tesota A. Gray
| General Information |
| Usda Symbol | OLTE |
| Group | Dicot |
| Life Cycle | Perennial |
| Growth Habits | ShrubTree, |
| Native Locations | OLTE |
Plant Guide
Use a soil moisture meter to monitor the soil moisture where Desert Ironwood is planted.
Plant Traits
Growth Requirements
| Temperature, Minimum (°F) | 22 |
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| Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils | Yes |
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| Adapted to Fine Textured Soils | Yes |
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| Adapted to Medium Textured Soils | Yes |
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| Anaerobic Tolerance | None |
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| CaCO3 Tolerance | High |
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| Cold Stratification Required | No |
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| Drought Tolerance | High |
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| Fertility Requirement | Low |
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| Fire Tolerance | None |
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| Frost Free Days, Minimum | 365 |
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| Hedge Tolerance | Medium |
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| Moisture Use | Low |
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| pH, Maximum | 8.6 |
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| pH, Minimum | 6.8 |
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| Planting Density per Acre, Maxim | 300 |
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| Planting Density per Acre, Minim | 170 |
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| Precipitation, Maximum | 20 |
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| Precipitation, Minimum | 3 |
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| Root Depth, Minimum (inches) | 12 |
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| Salinity Tolerance | Low |
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| Shade Tolerance | Intolerant |
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Morphology/Physiology
| Bloat | None |
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| Toxicity | None |
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| Resprout Ability | No |
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| Shape and Orientation | Rounded |
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| Active Growth Period | Spring, Summer, Fall |
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| C:N Ratio | High |
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| Coppice Potential | No |
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| Fall Conspicuous | No |
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| Fire Resistant | No |
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| Flower Color | Purple |
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| Flower Conspicuous | Yes |
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| Foliage Color | White-Gray |
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| Foliage Porosity Summer | Moderate |
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| Foliage Porosity Winter | Porous |
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| Foliage Texture | Fine |
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| Fruit/Seed Conspicuous | Yes |
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| Nitrogen Fixation | Low |
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| Low Growing Grass | No |
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| Lifespan | Long |
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| Leaf Retention | Yes |
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| Known Allelopath | No |
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| Height, Mature (feet) | 25.0 |
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| Height at 20 Years, Maximum (fee | 20 |
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| Growth Rate | Slow |
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| Growth Form | Multiple Stem |
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| Fruit/Seed Color | Brown |
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Reproduction
| Vegetative Spread Rate | None |
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| Small Grain | No |
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| Seedling Vigor | Medium |
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| Seed Spread Rate | Slow |
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| Seed per Pound | 2000 |
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| Fruit/Seed Persistence | No |
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| Propagated by Tubers | No |
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| Propagated by Sprigs | No |
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| Propagated by Sod | No |
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| Propagated by Seed | Yes |
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| Propagated by Corm | No |
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| Propagated by Cuttings | No |
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| Bloom Period | Early Spring |
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| Commercial Availability | Field Collections Only |
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| Fruit/Seed Abundance | High |
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| Fruit/Seed Period Begin | Summer |
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| Fruit/Seed Period End | Fall |
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| Propagated by Bare Root | Yes |
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| Propagated by Bulb | No |
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| Propagated by Container | Yes |
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Suitability/Use
| Veneer Product | No |
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| Pulpwood Product | No |
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| Protein Potential | Low |
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| Post Product | No |
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| Palatable Human | Yes |
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| Palatable Graze Animal | Low |
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| Palatable Browse Animal | Medium |
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| Nursery Stock Product | Yes |
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| Naval Store Product | No |
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| Lumber Product | Yes |
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| Fuelwood Product | High |
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| Fodder Product | No |
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| Christmas Tree Product | No |
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| Berry/Nut/Seed Product | No |
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