AZ Plant Spotlight: Cascalote Tree

AZ Plant Spotlight: Cascalote Tree

What Are Cascalote Trees?

Cascalote trees are small desert trees native to Mexico that feature dark green leaves and yellow flowers. Cascalote trees are ideal for Arizona landscapes and small patio spaces. They require direct sunlight and bloom in the winter when most other plants are dormant. 

Quick Facts

  • Botanical Name: Caesalpinia cacalaco

  • Plant Type: Tree

  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

  • Flower Color: Yellow

  • Foliage Color: Green

  • Height: 10-20 feet tall

  • Width: 10-20 feet wide

  • Seasonality: Fall and winter

  • Native: Mexico

  • Best Features: Suitable for dry climates, fertilization isn’t needed, and bright yellow blooms in the winter

  • Related Species: Bird of Paradise

Cascalote Trees—The Perfect Tree for Winter Landscapes

Cascalote trees are desert trees native to Mexico, so they thrive in hot, dry, desert climates like Southern Arizona. They grow relatively quickly and are perfect as small patio trees that will receive lots of direct sunlight.

In warm temperatures, this plant is evergreen and produces glossy, green leaves. In the winter, the tips of the branches bloom with large spikes of yellow flowers and reddish seedpods. Cascalote trees are great if you’d like a “pop” of color in your yard when most other plants aren’t blooming, and they are hummingbird and butterfly attractors. Cascalote trees are a great match for the Valentine bush—the yellow flowers pair well with the bush’s red flowers that bloom during the winter.

Cascalote trees are in the same family as the popular Bird of Paradise plant, but they produce bright yellow flowers instead of red and orange flowers. Cascalote trees are the least-known plant and only “tree” in their genus. The standard tree trunk and branches are known for their rose like thorns that cover them. There is a hybrid called “Smoothie” that as the tree matures the thorns fall off, especially the trunk making it a more likable option around kids and pets

 

Best Ways to Care for Your Cascalote Tree

Here are our best tips for caring for your Cascalote tree:

  • Sunlight: Cascalote trees require full sun, so incorporate them into your landscaping in a place that receives continual direct sunlight is key.

  • Soil: These trees adapt quickly to well-drained clay soil, so you won’t need to purchase a particular type of soil for these trees to thrive.

  • Water: Cascalote trees are drought-tolerant, so they will thrive when watered every three to four weeks during winter and two to three weeks during summer.

  • Temperature: Cascalote trees are native to Mexico, so they’re used to hot, dry, desert temperatures, like our climate here in Arizona.

  • Fertilizer: These plants don’t need fertilizer.

  • Pruning: Prune these trees once a year, during the spring or the fall. Thinning out the trees works great—you should always avoid hedging or heading back desert species. You should never prune the trees in summer or winter due to the extreme heat and frost experienced at these times of the year.

  • Pests: Cascalote trees don’t have any natural pests, so no precautions are needed to deter insects, rodents, or other critters. If you discover any pests, use soap and water to remove them.

Incorporate Cascalote Trees into Your Arizona Landscape with Wildflower Desert Design

Would you like to add a Cascalote tree into your backyard desert design—but are unsure where to place your new tree to help it thrive? Contact our team at Wildflower Desert Design for a free backyard design consultation.