Several folks have asked me about the beautiful small trees that covered their wispy stems and green-barked branches with yellow blossoms this spring and summer.
Those plants, once extremely common in our landscapes, are Jerusalem thorn trees, native to Mexico, the American Southwest and South America.
Incredibly graceful due to its tiny leaves, this cold-hardy, deciduous tree flowers heavily in spring, and then intermittently through autumn. Although young trees should be staked, the Jerusalem thorn requires little maintenance because established specimens need no irrigation, fertilizer or mulch.
This lovely tree occasionally grows 30 feet tall but is generally smaller.
Jerusalem thorn's diminutive size and airy branching allow it to be used in small gardens where larger or denser trees would be out of place. Additionally, the light shade it casts is ideal for growing most plants.
Install Jerusalem thorn trees on well-drained, sunny sites. They're not resistant to hurricane-force winds, so choose locations carefully. Propagate by seed. Pruning, if necessary, should be done in late autumn.
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[ Charles Reynolds, a Winter Haven resident, has an associate's degree in horticulture and is a member of the Garden Writers' Association of America. ]
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