Pollinator Garden Plants: Catclaw Acacia

Senegalia greggii (formerly Acacia greggii) is native to the southwestern united states and northern Mexico at elevations below 4500′. It’s a large thorny shrub or small tree growing to 20′ tall. Flowers are fragrant. Full to part sun, low water and hardy to 0 degrees F.

Flowering Season: J F M A M J J A S O N D

Sonoran Desert Native, great nectar plant, attracts native birds and super larval host plant:

• Mexican Yellow (Eurema mexicana)
• Mimosa Yellow (Eurema nise)
• Reakirt’s Blue (Echinargus isola)
• Marine Blue (Leptotes marina)
• Hubbard’s Small Silkmoth (Sphingicampa hubbardi)
• Tricolor Buckmoth (Hemileuca tricolor),
• Black Witch Moth (Ascalapha odorata),
• Owlet Moths (family Noctuidae)
• Mesquite Stinger Flannel Moth (Norape tenera),
• Naval Orange Worm Moth (Amyelois transitella)
• Merry Melipotis Moth (Melipotis jucunda)

Common names include catclaw acacia, catclaw mesquite, Gregg’s catclaw, paradise flower, wait-a-minute bush, and wait-a-bit tree; these names mostly come from the fact that the tree has numerous hooked prickles with the shape and size of a cat‘s claw which tend to hook onto passers-by; the hooked person must stop (“wait a minute”) to remove the prickles carefully to avoid injury or shredded clothing.

Wikipedia

Found on flats, washes, and slopes below 5,000 ft. in California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Texas, and south into Northern Mexico

Spadefoot Nursery

Other Resources:

Maricopa Pollinator Pathway Plant List

PollinatorWeb Recommended Plants

Mountain States Wholesale Nursery