Chapters

Growing Parkinsonia aculeata

Parkinsonia - Growing Guide

Growing Parkinsonia aculeata

Commonly known as ‘Jerusalem Thorn’

This is a brand new addition to our catalogue since having seen this odd tree growing at Ventnor Botanic Gardens. Sadly, for nearly all of us in the UK, this is a greenhouse or conservatory plant from the USA and Mexico.

P. aculeata is a deciduous weeping tree with needle-like 12in leaves. The leaves have a flat midrib and often close up at night. In spring this plant produces racemes of two to fifteen cup shaped bright yellow flowers which are up to 1in across with orange spotted petals and orange-red stamens.

Sadly I did not manage to photograph this plant in flower at Ventnor so you will have to make do for now with pictures of its needle like foliage. It looks a bit hardier than it may turn out to be!