Family: Fabaceae

A large shrub or small winter-deciduous tree, with catclaw-like thorns. Sonoran cat claw usually grows to about 20 feet tall. The spring bloom flush is aromatic and gorgeous—round aromatic catkin flowers are white with hints of copper within the catkins. The pods that follow are flat, constricted between seeds, and usually blushing with a reddish tinge.

Grow in full sun, in well-drained soil. Provide moderate to low water when established—moderate water will make a healthier and better-looking plant, even though this plant is very drought tolerant when established. Hardy to 15°F.

Larval host for butterflies like the Mexican yellow (Eurema mexicana), the mimosa yellow (Pyrisitia nise), Reakirt’s blue (Hemiargus isola), and the marine blue (Leptotes marina) as well as a host of many other insects and moths. Attracts arboreal-gleaning, insectivorous birds. Also attracts seed-consuming birds (and other animals). Flowers attract all sorts of nectar-eating insects, including insects that aren’t commonly attracted to other plants. Nice habitat for birds (the dense, thorny branches protect animals hiding within).

Wood used in construction. Whole plant used in medicine, mostly as teas. The young pods can be eaten (avoid the mature pods which contain a cyanogenic glycoside, called prunasin) usually ground up into a meal, often with fats added (the Seri added sea lion oil).