Olneya tesota Ironwood

Large, slow-growing, drought resistant tree, reaching heights of 30 ft. Found in washes and rocky slopes at 2,500 ft. elevation and below, and is evergreen except in severely cold winters. As its name implies it has extremely hard, heavy wood, and was utilized extensively by Native Americans for fuel wood, arrowheads, and tool handles. Attractive pink to purple flowers bloom from May to June. Its seeds are valued by wildlife, and the leaves are browsed by Desert Bighorn Sheep.