Olneya tesota
Ironwood, Ironwood
(c) W. Terry Hunefeld, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by W. Terry Hunefeld · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Native
Olneya tesota (Ironwood) is a native California shrub / tree in the Fabaceae family, recognized by Monotypic genus endemic to the Sonoran Desert region.
Ironwood is a native shrub found in the Peninsular Ranges and southern deserts in rocky washes and desert landscapes at elevations below 1,300 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces purple-pink flowers with white suffusion, nestled in axillary racemes with yellow-white to pink banner and keel. Growing as a generally armed, canescent shrub reaching several meters tall, it develops a dense, multi-stemmed form with distinctive branching. Its leaves are even-pinnate with 8 to 21 thick, obovate or elliptic leaflets arranged alternately or in clusters, with a pointed axis extending beyond the leaflet tips. The plant produces persistent, slowly dehiscent fruits that are oblong or elliptic and plump, typically containing one to three seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Monotypic genus endemic to the Sonoran Desert region
Habitat and range
Habitat: Often abundant in washes
Elevation: < 1300 m
California counties: Riverside, Imperial, San Bernardino, San Diego
Outside California: Arizona, Mexico
Bloom period
Olneya tesota blooms Apr-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Senegalia: Olneya leaves end in paired leaflets; acacia leaves have many more tiny leaflet pairs and yellow ball flowers.; vs Neltuma: Olneya has purple-pink flowers and silver foliage; mesquite has yellow-green flowers and bright green leaves.; vs Psorodendron: Olneya has compound leaves; smoketree is nearly leafless with smoky purple flower clusters.; vs Parkinsonia: Olneya has short compound leaves; palo verde has long drooping compound leaves on green bark.; vs Alhagi: Olneya is a tree; camelthorn is a spiny low shrub with small pink flowers along thorny stems.
Frequently asked questions
Is Olneya tesota native to California?
Yes. Olneya tesota is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Olneya tesota bloom?
Olneya tesota blooms Apr-May.
Where in California does Olneya tesota grow?
Olneya tesota occurs in Riverside, Imperial, San Bernardino, San Diego, at elevations of < 1300 m.
What plant family does Olneya tesota belong to?
Olneya tesota is in the Fabaceae family, genus Olneya.
What habitat does Olneya tesota grow in?
Olneya tesota grows in Often abundant in washes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.