< Back

Cascalote

Caesalpinia cacalaco

false

5 gallon

Cascalote

Out of stock

15-20’x15-20’

Sizes:

Cascalote – Caesalpinia cacalaco
Synonyms: Poincianella cacalaco, Hoffmannseggia cacalaco
Also Known As: Mexican Bush Bird

Description:
Native to the southern Sonoran Desert, Cascalote is one of the most striking winter-blooming desert trees. While it does have thorns - most desert trees do - they are primarily an issue when the tree is young. Older trunks and mature branches have fewer sharp points, often replaced with knobby spurs, while young growth is more claw-like.

From late fall through winter (and sometimes sporadically year-round), Cascalote produces large spikes of golden-yellow flowers at the branch tips. These blooms are followed by attractive copper-colored seedpods, ensuring visual interest throughout the year. An evergreen with glossy green compound leaves, Cascalote also produces abundant leaf litter, excellent mulch in wildlife gardens. Like all legumes, it is a nitrogen fixer and requires no supplemental fertilizer.

In the garden, it grows best in full sun with well-draining soil. Highly drought tolerant once established, but will grow faster and bloom more heavily with deep, occasional irrigation. Flowers drop at around 30 °F; prolonged temperatures in the low 20s can damage or kill the tree.

Wildlife Value:
Cascalote provides nectar, seeds, and cover to a wide variety of pollinators and birds.

Host Plant: None confirmed for local butterflies.

Nectar Source: Documented for honey bees, native bees (including large carpenter bees), Monarch, Queen, Cloudless Sulphur, and occasional other butterfly visitors.

Bird Resources: Nectar, seeds, caterpillars, roost/nest sites.

Bird Species (verified for our ecoregion): Hummingbirds (including Anna’s and Costa’s); Hooded Oriole (Icterus cucullatus) – uses for nectar and nesting material; Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps) – foraging and nesting; House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) – seed consumption; Gila Woodpecker (Melanerpes uropygialis) – occasional foraging in flowers; Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) – roosting and seeds

Notes:
The common name “Mexican Bush Bird” refers to its attractiveness to nectar-feeding birds in its native range.
In wildlife gardens, Cascalote serves as a year-round nectar source for hummingbirds during winter scarcity.
Avoid planting directly adjacent to high-traffic walkways due to thorny young branches.

Plant Care

Native region:

Sonoran Desert

Water needs:

Low

Exposure:

FullSun; Reflected Heat

Mature size:

15-20’x15-20’

Growth rate:

Moderate

Flower color:

Yellow

Flower season:

Late Fall-Winter

Pruning:

To shape and thin

Cold Hardiness:

30 Degrees will drop leaves and flowers - Prolonged at 20 degrees will damage the tree

Nectar-producing:

Yes

Attracts pollinators:

Yes

Nighttime pollinators:

Butterflies or Moths:

Yes

Monarchs:

Yes

Larval host:

Bees:

Yes

Bats:

Birds:

Yes

Nest site:

Nest materials:

Rabbit-resistant:

Yes

Tortoises:

Growing Plants in the Desert — Important Information

The information presented here is, to the best of my knowledge, accurate and based on reliable research, personal experience in my own garden, observations from other gardens I’ve visited, and time spent studying plants in their native habitats. I always welcome your feedback and experiences to help me continue educating others!

Cacti:
In my experience, cacti are much happier in filtered shade here in the low desert of the Coachella Valley. Their colors are more vibrant and they tend to bloom more profusely, especially the non-native varieties. If you look closely at how our native barrel cactus and beavertail prickly pear grow in the wild, you’ll often find them tucked among rocks or beneath the shelter of creosote and other shrubs.

⚠️ A note of caution: Cacti and succulents are often illegally collected from the wild, which not only damages plant populations but also disturbs entire ecosystems. In some cases, wild populations of cacti have even gone extinct because of this practice. When purchasing these plants, always be sure they’ve been legally obtained. Look for nursery-grown stock or plants with a native plant certification, and keep that documentation for your records.

Light Requirements:
In our desert (Sonoran/Colorado), “full sun” doesn’t always mean what you might think. Many so-called full-sun plants benefit from and actually appreciate some late-afternoon filtered light—especially during the intense summer months.