Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Tree
  
Tree
  
Origin
North America, United States, Southwestern United States, California, Mexico
  
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States, Texas
  
Types
Lebombo ironwood, Giant ironwood
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Desert, Dry areas
  
Dappled Shade, Shady Edge, Woodland Garden Secondary
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-12
  
4-9
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
  
9-1
  
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
  
3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Spreading
  
Thicket/Colonizing
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White, Light Pink, Lavender
  
White, Green, Ivory
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Chocolate, Black
  
Purple, Black
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Gray Green
  
Green, Blue Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Gray Green, Gray
  
Green, Blue Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Gray Green, Gray
  
Yellow, Green, Purple, Blue Green, Dark Green, Yellow green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Gray Green, Gray
  
Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Small oblong
  
bipinnate
  
Thorns
Yes
  
Yes
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Slow
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Late Spring
  
Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Pollution, Soil Compaction
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Transplanting
  
Cuttings, Divison, Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water
  
Needs high amount of water
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
  
Aphids, Leaf spot, Mealybugs
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
Yes
  
Yes
  
Foliage Texture
Fine
  
Coarse
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Butterflies
  
Bees, Butterflies, Insects, Not Available
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
Skin irritation
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
  
Borders, Woodland margins
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Not Available
  
Alterative, Analgesic, Diaphoretic, Opthalmic
  
Part of Plant Used
Seeds, Stem
  
Bark, Leaves, Root
  
Other Uses
Carvings, Knife handles
  
Used as a potherb
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Rock Garden / Wall, Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees
  
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border
  
Botanical Name
OLNEYA tesota
  
ARALIA spinosa
  
Common Name
Ironwood
  
American Angelica Tree, Devil's Walking Stick, Hercules' Club
  
In Hindi
रेगिस्तान आइरनवुड
  
Devil's Walking Stick
  
In German
Wüsteneisenholz
  
Teufelsspazierstock
  
In French
désert Ironwood
  
Walking bâton du diable
  
In Spanish
Ironwood desierto
  
Bastón del Diablo
  
In Greek
Ironwood έρημο
  
Περπάτημα Stick διαβόλου
  
In Portuguese
deserto Ironwood
  
Vara andando de diabo
  
In Polish
pustynia Ironwood
  
Diabelski laska
  
In Latin
desert ironwood
  
Virgam diaboli
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Fabales
  
Apiales
  
Family
Fabaceae
  
Araliaceae
  
Genus
Olneya
  
Aralia
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Robinieae
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Faboideae
  
Aralioideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available