I agree! I'd like to also but I'm beginning to think that the only way I'll get one is to go dig it up someplace. Since I saw your post, I've been surfing. . . NO LUCK!

My only suggestion would be to call this place and ask them: Designs In Nature,The Tree Place, 5501 East I20, Fort Worth, TX 76119, 817-561-9248

Let me know what you find out please?

Dorothy

PJ, try calling Petal Pushers in Cedar Hill and Westons. There may be some deserty type nurseries that sell them - Arizona or west Texas.

Do you want a specific variety PJ? They are awfully thorny and the thorns will penetrate your athletic shoes (ask me how I know). That being said, they are all over out here and are considered nuisance trees, but I can dig you up one if you want.

Pam

I love the beauty of mesquite trees, and also remember pulling those long thorns out of my feet when I was a kid as well as sucking on the sweet beans.

But I've been reading about thornless Mesquites. They are from Chili, but here's one that was discovered in Texas.

If you want you can do a google search for some more info on thornless varieties.

Here is a link that might be useful: Texas native thornless mesquite tree

Roselee, I just found out about the native,thornless "Beth" cultivar and knew about the "Maverick" thornless they sell at Arid Zone Trees. I don't think Arid Zone will sell to individuals just landscapers.
I hope I can get a native one but I'll settle for the Chilean Mesquite if that's all I can find. I am going to hold out on the ones with thorns. I already have a Retama tree with thorns!

Prairie, I thought about putting in a special order with Weston's and I forgot about petal pushers.

Dorothy, thanks! I'll give them a call too. PJ

Patsy, I know I want a tree with thorns that can ruin a tractor tire! LOL!!! I did not realize they had thorns like that. PJ, your poor little feeties will put themselves up on the ottoman and refuse to ever run again.

I'm gonna whimp out and hunt down a thornless!
Sadly, the house I'm buying has a thornless mesquite that has borers. My guess is that it's Chilean and got overwatered for the sake of the sod. I know a perfect little spot on the west side with a slope for my Xeric trees(Retama,Kidneywood and hopefully a mesquite!) I might end up trying to use cuttings to get a tree from this one. I have to cut it down and burn it to stop those borers. PJ

Patsy
Would you dig one up for me in the fall please? I have a place that thorns won't be a problem.

Dorothy

I'm not sure I'd want a plant like a mesquite in a yard anywhere near water or sewer lines.....near being a relative word considering how determined mesquite roots can be.

I'd worry about plumbing problems down the road.

I don't think mesquite roots cause problems with water/sewer lines -- my parents planted two in their front yard over 20 years ago, in the same section of the yard that the water pipe runs through, and haven't had any problems with that pipe. We planted a volunteer in the backyard about 5 years later, near where the sewer pipe goes to the alley. About 10-15 years after that was planted, my parents had the sewer pipes replaced and I didn't hear anything about the mesquite causing problems with the sewer pipes -- and they would have mentioned it! And this is in San Antonio, in the caliche, and my parents only watered enough to keep the grass alive (but not green) in the summer.

On the other hand, I have a cedar elm six feet from my sewer pipe and it's constantly invading the pipe.

Thanks for the head's up on the Cedar Elm and Mesquite! PJ

Wow that's good to know....I would have thought for sure those roots would have found they way into a pipe. Cedar Elm doesn't surprise me though.

A mesquite has a extremely deep tap root. A 2" tree from seed will have a 8-10" tap, so if you dig one up, dig deep.

The seed pods are out now if you want to go that way, I could send some seed when they ripen. That will be any day. Let me know.

I annually poison about 1500 of them on my place, and that's just a fraction of what needs done. I do let some of the nicer growing ones live.

mark

How do trees get their roots into pipes, anyway? Wouldn't the pipe have to have a leak to begin with? If not, how would the roots know there is water hiding in there?

I've wondered the same thing, Prairie. The pipe would probably have to have at least a small leak.

I never connected it until now, but about six or seven years ago my neighbors sewer line stopped up. When they dug it up there was a mass of fine roots in it that had taken the exact shape of the large pipe. It really looked weird.

A new leak proof pipe was installed. Within a couple of years a large mature bald cypress tree within 20 feet of the line was noticable declining. Last year it was dead and had to be removed. I'll bet it was getting water from that line all these years.

Trees that rely upon septic systems and grey water suffer the same fate when the run-off is removed.

WOW! what a post!!! pj, in the fall, after there is some moisture, we will be uprooting about 25 acres of mesquite.
I can see if a small one can be salvaged. The roots do run deeply. ALSO, I don't see mention of desert willow. A neat tree that blooms, has a similar willowy leaf as mesquite .....just so happens I have some in gal. pots. E=mail me about the wholesaler you might want a tree from.
As to roots in sewer lines. Many older lines were clay, joined together with cement. After untold years, the cement breaks down and even the pipe cracks, thus an open door for a tiny feeder root. Then it's just like mice, once ya got one, ya got a million. Also, the drain field in septic systems once used perforated pipe over a gravel trench.
Weldon

Cracked pipes happen alot up here in DFW area. We have a real weird clay here that cracks and shifts. Even PVC pipes crack if they aren't buried with alot of sand around them.

And don't forget the pipe isn't a solid piece from house to city line. Even glues can come apart and it only takes a small hole for a root to find.

If you see how these trees can sprout and grow 10" tall by the 100's right now in rock hard red clay that hasn't had but an inch of rain in 10+ weeks, figuring out how they may exploit a small crack in a pipe isn't all that hard to believe.

OK, guess transplanting is not a good idea. Would someone be kind enough to send me a few seeds please? My email address is listed on my page. Let me know and I'll send you my snail mail address. :-)

We have a bare place by the road that is dry, rocky, seemingly infertile. Would love to see something grow there.

Dorothy

I recently saw three desert willows happily growing, covered in blooms and green leaves, beside a train track. No rain, no watering. It looks like a very good tree for an untended, hot, sunny, dry area.

I have 4 Desert Willows,a Retama,Kidneywood and an Acacia. I wanted a THORNLESS Mesquite to round out my xeric collection! I like the regular Mesquites but won't put in a tree that has nastier thorns than the Retama. PJ

Here is a link that might be useful: Retama tree

Retamas are so pretty when they're blooming good! And that native thornless mesquite sounds like it could be a good thing if it becomes more available. My Brasil is finally producing enough berries this year. I wish I had more of them...they look nice and the berries are cool. Hard to start them from seed...I've planted so many seed and only got 2 to germinate so far.

I have lots of mesquite tree growing all over my land... small to mid size $25 per tree, or 2 for $40