Catclaw

Carried by 3 nurseries

Estimated plant range Estimated plant range

Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Plant description

Catclaw (Senegalia greggii) is a shrub in the Legume family known for its fragrant fuzzy flowers and spines on its branches. The genus Senegalia was formerly classified with the Acacias, and some sources still refer to it by that name. Common names for this species include Catclaw Acacia, Catclaw Mesquite, Gregg's Catclaw, Devil's Claw, Paradise Flower, and Wait-a-minute Bush.

Plant away from places where the spines can catch you. It can make a good barrier planting.

Birds use this plant for shelter and building nests. The fruit is a legume pod valued by wildlife.

Plant overview

Plant type

Shrub

Size

12 ft Tall
8 ft Wide

Growth rate

Moderate, Slow

Dormancy

Summer Semi-deciduous

Color

Yellow, Cream

Flowering season

Spring

Special uses

Bank stabilization, Hedge

Landscaping information

Sun

Full Sun

Water

Low

Summer irrigation

Max 1x / month once established

Ease of care

Moderate

Cold tolerance

Tolerates cold to 15° F

Soil drainage

Fast

Soil description

Rocky, sandy or decomposed granite.
Soil PH: 6.6 - 8.2

Maintenance

Can be pruned into a small tree. Wear gloves and use caution when pruning.

Propagation

For propagating by seed: No treatment; Scarification or hot water may improve germination.

Sunset Zones

7*, 8*, 9*, 10*, 11, 12*, 13, 14*, 15*, 16*, 17, 18, 19*, 20*, 21*, 22*, 23*, 24*

Natural setting

Site type

Slope, canyons, flats and washes of desert and semi-desert areas

Plant communities

Creosote Bush Scrub, Pinyon-Juniper Woodland

Companion plants

See all

Use with other desert or semi-desert species such as Desert Agave (Agave deserti), Bigberry Manzanita (Arctostaphylos glauca), Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), Fremont Barberry (Berberis fremontii), Desert Ceanothus (Ceanothus greggii), Desert Willow (Chilpsis linearis), Brittlebush (Encelia californica), Buckwheat (Eriogonum spp.), Apache Plume (Fallugia paradoxa), California Juniper (Juniperus californica), Bladderpod (Peritoma arborea), Antelope Brush (Purshia stansburyana or tridentata), Sage (Salvia dorrii or mohavensis), Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis), Apricot Mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua), Banana Yucca (Yucca baccata), and various cactus species.