This seasonal showstopper will tolerate full sun, drought, flood, parking lots, garbage soil, and the occasional pickup truck.
Note: “Havin’ a Moment” is an informal series by Kevin Andrew Pride featuring San Antonio seasonal plant stars and where to go see them.
Retama is all abloom right now! Don’t know what I’m talking about? Just drive through San Antonio’s favorite traffic jam alley — along Highway 281 from 410 to downtown — and you can’t miss ‘em. They’re definitely having a moment!
Every stem is covered in yellow flowers. It’s honestly a bit much. So why are they all over the sides of the highways? Because they were planted there. Also because they literally sprout up wherever they please.
Ranchers think retama are annoying try hards (tbh they’re kinda right). So they’re always trying to unalive them. But these short bean trees (in the legume family) will actually put nitrogen back into the soil, so that’s cool. Seriously though, it’s a tough species that will tolerate full sun, drought, flood, parking lots, garbage soil, and the occasional pickup truck.
Retama (or Parkinsonia aculeata) has all kinds of names, including palo verde which means green bark.
When it’s not exploding with yellow flowers, the whole tree is green — trunk, branches and spines. (Oh yeah, this tree is not for climbing.) The leaves are super weird too. It’s hard to tell what’s even going on with them.
Don’t sleep on these short kings. They belong in your yard for sure.
