Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Crown Jewel Mesquite
Crown Jewel Mesquite is a thornless South American mesquite selection grown for fast, wide shade in desert yards. It grows about 30 to 40 feet tall and wide, with fine, feathery leaves it keeps through most of the winter. It takes full sun and reflected heat and needs little water once rooted. Yellow flower spikes in spring bring in native bees.
Best for: fast shade over a large yard, patio edges and play areas where thorns are a worry, hot spots with reflected heat, and spring flowers for bees.
South American mesquites grow fast into shade trees about 30 to 40 feet tall and wide. Plant it where the canopy has room, and space trees at least 20 feet apart.
It is sold as a thornless selection, so it suits spots near a patio, path or play area. Keep it far enough from walls and paving that roots and branches have room.
It takes full sun and reflected heat off walls and paving. After the first year it needs little extra water, and it grows in most soils that drain.
It is not a lawn tree or a tree for small spaces. Frequent watering grows a big crown on weak wood, and those trees are the ones that break or blow over in monsoon storms.
- Trees in a row or group20 ft apart
- Single shade tree20 ft or more from other trees
Right after planting, soak it every 1 to 2 days in summer, or every 3 to 4 days in the cooler months. By the second month, aim for about once a week in summer, and keep regular deep soaks going for about 3 years. Established trees want a soak 2 to 3 feet deep at the canopy edge about every 2 to 4 weeks in summer, and about monthly in winter.
Stake and train it young to a straight trunk with well-spaced branches. As it matures, raise the canopy and remove suckers and water sprouts. Remove no more than a quarter of the canopy in a year, and never strip the inner branches so leaves are left only at the tips.
Mesquites that get too much water grow fast and weak, and they are the ones that break or tip over in monsoon storms. Keep watering deep and infrequent.
Birds carry desert mistletoe from tree to tree, and mesquite is a common host. Look for it in winter. Remove it by cutting the branch at least a foot below where it attaches.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How big does Crown Jewel Mesquite get?
South American mesquites like this one grow about 30 to 40 feet tall and about as wide. Plant it where the canopy has that much room, away from the house.
Does Crown Jewel Mesquite have thorns?
It is sold as a thornless selection, which is why people pick it for spots near patios and paths. Young growth on most mesquites is the thorniest, so check new shoots when you prune.
How fast does it grow?
It grows fast, and how fast depends a lot on water. Deep, spaced-out watering gives slower but stronger growth than frequent shallow watering.
How often should I water a mesquite once it is rooted?
Water regularly through the first year. After that, many trees need little beyond rain, with a deep soak about every 2 to 4 weeks in summer. Soak 2 to 3 feet deep at the edge of the canopy, not at the trunk.
Can I plant it in my lawn?
It is not a lawn tree. Lawn watering is frequent and shallow, which grows weak wood and shallow roots, so plant it where you can water deep and not often.
Does it lose its leaves in winter?
It keeps most of its leaves through winter. It sheds some in the cool months and drops the old leaves in spring as new ones come in.
Does it drop pods?
Mesquites drop pods in summer, which makes a seasonal cleanup. Plan for it where the canopy hangs over a patio or walkway.
How cold hardy is it?
South American mesquites are hardy to about 15 to 20°F, the least cold hardy of the mesquites sold here. A normal Valley winter is fine, but a hard freeze below that can damage it.
How do I keep it from blowing over in a monsoon?
Train it young to one strong trunk with well-spaced branches. Water deep and not often so roots grow down, and thin a thick canopy before monsoon season so wind passes through.
How far should I plant it from walls and driveways?
Keep it well back from walls, driveways and irrigation lines. South American mesquites often grow shallow, spreading roots that can lift sidewalks.
Does it attract bees?
Yes. The spring flower spikes draw native bees and other pollinators.
Can mesquite leaves irritate skin?
Mesquite leaves can irritate skin for some people, and some react to the pollen. Wear long sleeves and gloves when you prune.
Crown Jewel Mesquite for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Crown Jewel Mesquite is a thornless selection of the South American mesquites, the fast shade trees sold across the Valley. It grows wide and quick on little water once rooted and handles sun and reflected heat. Below is what to expect, including size, water, winter leaves, pods, training and monsoon care.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
Thornless mesquite trees for Phoenix yards
Crown Jewel Mesquite is sold as a thornless selection of the South American mesquites. It gives fast, wide shade without thorns over the patio or path.
How big does a South American mesquite get?
About 30 to 40 feet tall and about as wide. It is a tree for big yards and open lots, so space trees 20 feet or more apart.
How to water a mesquite in the Valley
Water regularly the first year. After that, soak it 2 to 3 feet deep at the canopy edge every 2 to 4 weeks in summer. Frequent watering grows weak wood.
Why mesquite trees blow over in monsoons
Overwatered mesquites grow big crowns on shallow roots and weak wood. Deep, spaced-out watering and thinning a thick canopy before monsoon season help it stand up to wind.
Is a South American mesquite evergreen?
It keeps most of its leaves through winter. Some drop in the cool months, and the old leaves fall in spring as new ones come in.
Mesquite flowers and bees
Yellow flower spikes open in spring and draw native bees and other pollinators. Pods follow and drop in summer.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.