Is it bad to plant desert museum Palo verde tree in the winter?

by Tina Rose
(West Hills, Ca. USA)


I just bought a 10 gallon desert museum Palo verde tree from Home Depot. I’ve started digging the hole in a sunny area of my back yard, but then I read that you should plant it in the summer.

Should I still go ahead and plant it? If not, is it ok to stay in the plastic container until summer?

I live in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, zone 10. The soil is clay. Temps right now average 65-75 in the daytime, low 50s at night. We just had our first rain of the year.
Thank you for your help!

Comments for Is it bad to plant desert museum Palo verde tree in the winter?

Click here to add your own comments

Jan 01, 2021
 In Your Case
by: Jacki Cammidge, Certified Horticulturist

You can plant this plant right now - no worries. As long as the ground is frost free (which I'm sure yours is) you're good to go.

Don't leave it in the pot, just plant in the ground where you plan to leave it to grow. If you have to leave it in the pot, it will be fine in a sheltered spot (if there is any concern about it freezing, wrap an old sleeping bag, or put some sawdust or leaves around the pot).

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Ask the Horticulturist.