Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Palo Blanco
Palo Blanco is a small, upright tree grown for its white, peeling bark and long, thin leaves that hang and sway in the breeze. It stays narrow, about 10 to 15 feet wide, so it fits courtyards, entries and small yards. It has no thorns, takes the heat and gets by on little water. Creamy flower spikes open in spring.
Best for: courtyards, entries and patios, small or narrow yards, hot spots against a wall, and light shade over agaves, aloes and low perennials.
It grows about 15 to 25 feet tall but only about 10 to 15 feet wide, so it fits courtyards, entries, patios and small gardens. It has no thorns, so it can stand right beside a walkway or seating area. For a small grove, plant the trees 8 to 10 feet apart.
The creamy to silver-white bark peels in thin, papery layers and is the feature people plant it for. It gives the tree interest all year. The airy canopy lets light through, so agaves, aloes and low perennials grow well underneath.
It takes full sun and reflected heat, so it can go right against a wall. The wall also gives this frost-tender tree some protection on cold nights. The open canopy casts light, dappled shade rather than deep shade.
It is frost tender, rated to about 20 to 25°F, so plant it in a warm, sheltered spot and cover young trees on frost nights. In a dry summer it sheds its leaves unless it gets a deep soak at least once a month. Seed pods add some litter.
- Grove planting8-10 ft apart
- Looser group10-12 ft apart
A new tree needs water every 1 to 2 days in summer for its first two weeks, or every 3 to 4 days when it is cool. Stretch that to about weekly by the second month, and keep watering deeply and regularly for about 3 years. Once rooted, a deep soak at the canopy edge at least once a month in summer keeps it from dropping leaves, and winter needs little.
Remove the nursery stake when you plant. If the tree leans or the spot is windy, set two stakes outside the root ball, with soft, wide ties that leave a little room to sway. Take the stakes out after about a year.
Once its shape is set, it needs little or no pruning. Keep it to no more than a quarter of the canopy a year, and never thin out the middle so only branch tips are left.
It is frost tender, with damage around 20 to 25°F. Plant it in a sheltered spot, such as against a wall.
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 Palo Blanco get?
Most reach about 15 to 25 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide. It stays upright and narrow for a tree of that height, so it fits spots where a spreading tree would crowd things.
How far apart should I plant Palo Blanco?
Plant about 8 to 10 feet apart, center to center, for a grove, or 10 to 12 feet apart for a looser group. The Spacing tab shows both.
Does Palo Blanco have thorns?
No. It has no thorns, so you can plant it next to walkways, entries and patios.
What makes the bark special?
The creamy to silver-white bark peels away in thin, papery layers. It is the tree's main feature, and it shows all year, so plant it where you will see the trunk up close.
How much shade does Palo Blanco give?
It gives light, dappled shade. The canopy is open and airy, so it will not shade a patio deeply, but low plants still grow well underneath.
How much water does Palo Blanco need?
For the first two weeks, water a new tree every 1 to 2 days in summer, then ease to about weekly by the second month. Once rooted it needs little water, but give it a deep soak at the canopy edge at least once a month in summer.
Why is my Palo Blanco dropping leaves?
It sheds its small leaves in summer when it runs too dry. Give it a deep soak at least once a month through the heat to help it hold its leaves. Some trees also go bare in winter.
How cold hardy is Palo Blanco?
It is frost tender and rated hardy to about 20 to 25°F. Plant it in a warm, sheltered spot, like against a wall, and cover young trees with frost cloth on frost nights.
Does Palo Blanco need pruning?
Once its shape is set, it needs little or no pruning. If you do prune, take no more than a quarter of the canopy in a year, and never thin out the middle so only branch tips are left.
When does Palo Blanco bloom?
In spring, with creamy white to pale yellow flower spikes. Some trees bloom again here and there later in the year.
Is Palo Blanco messy?
Palo Blanco is somewhat messy. Brown, papery seed pods follow the flowers, and it can drop leaves in drought or winter, so expect a moderate amount of litter to rake up.
Is Palo Blanco the same as Acacia willardiana?
Yes. It is sold as Acacia willardiana, and newer plant lists call it Mariosousa willardiana. The common name means white stick in Spanish.
Palo Blanco for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Palo Blanco is a small Sonoran Desert tree from Mexico with papery white bark, a narrow, upright shape and long, hanging leaves. It takes heat, needs little water and has no thorns, which is why it is a popular pick for courtyards and entries. Below is what to expect in a Valley yard, from size and water to cold and pruning.
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.
Palo Blanco, the white stick tree
Palo blanco means white stick in Spanish. The name fits a tree whose creamy to silver-white bark peels away in thin, papery layers. Long, thin leaves hang from the branches and move in the breeze.
How big does Palo Blanco get in Phoenix?
Plan on about 15 to 25 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide. It grows at a slow to moderate pace, with an upright, open shape. For a small grove, plant the trees 8 to 12 feet apart.
Is Palo Blanco a good tree for a small yard or courtyard?
Yes. Its narrow shape, lack of thorns and light shade suit courtyards, entry planters, patios and small gardens. It can also go against a wall, where it takes the reflected heat.
How often do you water a Palo Blanco?
Water a new tree often at first, then ease to about weekly by the second month. Once rooted it needs little water. In summer, a deep soak at least once a month helps it hold its leaves through the heat.
Is Palo Blanco frost hardy?
It is frost tender and rated to about 20 to 25°F. A warm, sheltered spot, such as against a wall, gives it the most protection. Cover young trees with frost cloth on cold nights.
Does Palo Blanco have thorns?
No. Palo Blanco has no thorns on its trunk or branches. That makes it easier to place near walkways, entries and seating areas.
What to plant under a Palo Blanco
The airy canopy lets plenty of light through, so plants grow well below it. Agaves, aloes and low perennials are common choices.
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.