Senegalia greggii
Catclaw, devil's claw, Devil'S Claw
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Native
Senegalia greggii (Catclaw) is a native California shrub / tree in the Fabaceae family, recognized by Senegalia was recently separated from Acacia and represents primarily African and American species, with this being the only California….
Catclaw is a California native shrub found in the eastern Peninsular Range and desert regions in dry chaparral, washes, and disturbed areas at elevations of 100 to 1,400 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces light yellow to cream flowers in clustered inflorescences. Growing as a shrub up to 7 meters tall with distinctively curved, recurved prickles on its twigs, it has a spreading, somewhat hairy appearance. Its leaves are clustered on short shoots, with 1 to 3 pairs of primary leaflets and 3 to 6 pairs of secondary leaflets that are oblong to obovate and lightly hairy. The plant produces curved or twisted papery fruits 5 to 15 centimeters long and 10 to 25 millimeters wide, which are light brown and glabrous.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Senegalia was recently separated from Acacia and represents primarily African and American species, with this being the only California representative
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon; dry slopes in chaparral, flats, washes, disturbed areas
Elevation: 100-1400 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Riverside, Imperial, San Diego, Los Angeles
Outside California: to Texas, northern Mexico including Baja California
Bloom period
Senegalia greggii blooms Apr-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Neltuma: Senegalia has curved cat-claw prickles; Neltuma has straight to slightly curved spines.; vs Olneya: Senegalia has curved prickles and cylindrical flower spikes; Olneya has straight spines and purple pea-flowers.; vs Acacia: Senegalia has twice-compound leaves and curved prickles; Acacia has simple leaves and no thorns.; vs Vachellia: Senegalia has curved prickles scattered on stems; Vachellia has straight paired spines at leaf bases only.; vs Strombocarpa: Senegalia has curved prickles and cylindrical flower spikes; Strombocarpa has straight spines and round flower balls.
Frequently asked questions
Is Senegalia greggii native to California?
Yes. Senegalia greggii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Senegalia greggii bloom?
Senegalia greggii blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Senegalia greggii grow?
Senegalia greggii occurs in San Bernardino, Riverside, Imperial, San Diego, Los Angeles, at elevations of 100-1400 m.
What plant family does Senegalia greggii belong to?
Senegalia greggii is in the Fabaceae family, genus Senegalia.
What habitat does Senegalia greggii grow in?
Senegalia greggii grows in Uncommon; dry slopes in chaparral, flats, washes, disturbed areas.
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.