Parkinsonia praecox (syn. Cercidium praecox), the palo brea or Sonoran palo verde, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae.[1] It is native to the dry Neotropics from Mexico to Argentina.[2] A small tree reaching, it is usually a bit wider than it is tall.[1]
Parkinsonia praecox is valued as a xeriscaping ornamental for its yellow wands of early-blooming flowers, its chartreuse-to-green bark, and its graceful branching habit.[1] [3] A drought-adapted species, it drops its leaves in the dry season.[1] [3] Overwatering will cause it to grow rapidly with weak wood, and then it is likely to collapse.[1]