Large, deciduous shrub (rarely a tree) to 10’ tall x 15’ wide. Yellow puff ball flowers appear usually April through June followed by slim legume pods.

Grow in full sun, low water, hardy to -10º F.

Nectar rich flowers loved by bees, butterflies, and more. Butterfly larval plant food for the Mexican yellow (Eurema mexicana), the mimosa yellow (Pyrisitia nise), and the Reakirt’s blue (Echinargus isola). Moth larval food plant for the black witch moth (Ascalapha odorata), Merry melipotis moth (Melipotis jucunda), Mesquite stinger flannel moth (Norape tenera), Navel orangeworm moth (Amyelois transitella).

Various indigenous people in Arizona and New Mexico use the fruits to make pinole. Mashed seeds can be made into a tea to relieve upset stomachs, and dried pods can be powdered and used topically to treat skin rashes.

Found along washes, on slopes and mesas from 2,000-6,500 ft in Arizona, southern New Mexico, Texas, south into northern Mexico.