In Defense Of Thorns

By Amanda Green, Master Gardener

When choosing plants for landscaping, I’m usually drawn to soft and delicate foliage, which isn’t always the best choice for our West Texas Climate. When I was choosing new trees for my property, I knew I needed something small, drought-tolerant, and that would protect the songbirds from neighborhood cats and other predators. What I kept coming back to was native desert trees with prickles (thorns), and realized they were perfect for my needs.

Catclaw Acacia at Watersong Nature Preserve

These trees are native to our region, which means they will not require additional irrigation after establishment, and will provide much-needed food sources for many native insects and birds.

Catclaw Mimosa at Watersong Nature Preserve

When you decide to plant a tree this spring, look into some of our lesser-known native trees. The flowers and birdsong introduced to your yard will make up for the thorns.

I landed on a few species that I absolutely loved. Whitethorn Acacia with its beautiful white puffball flowers in the spring, Catclaw Mimosa for its pink firework blooms, and a Screwbean Mesquite for its really interesting curly seed pods. These trees will protect small mammals and birds from predators and also serve as a natural barrier to my garden.

A Prairie Walking Stick blending in on a Lotebush at Sibley Nature Center.

If you have questions, call the AgriLife office in Odessa at 498-4071 or in Midland at 686-4700.   Additional information and access to past articles are available at westtexasgardening.org.  Click on “Resources.”