Desert Ironwood Olneya tesota 10 Seeds

Olneya tesota, commonly known as desert ironwood, is a long-lived, slow-growing leguminous tree native to the Sonoran Desert and renowned for its exceptional hardness and ecological importance. Typically reaching 15–30 feet tall, it forms a dense, irregular crown with silvery-gray bark and pinnate leaves that give it a softly textured appearance amid arid landscapes. In late spring, it produces clusters of showy lavender to white pea-like flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, followed by slender seed pods containing hard, bean-like seeds. As one of the heaviest and most durable woods in North America, its heartwood is dark, extremely dense, and resistant to decay, historically valued for tools, carving, and fuel. Ecologically, desert ironwood provides shade and protection for countless desert plants and animals, fostering microhabitats in otherwise harsh conditions. Its extreme drought tolerance and longevity—often several centuries—make it a keystone species in the Sonoran Desert ecosystem and a striking ornamental choice for xeric gardens.