Mexican Ebony Tree. Havardia mexicana, Legume, Pea, or Bean Family: ( Fabaceae ) or ( Leguminosae ), Mexican Ebony: Also Called: Desert Ironwood, Pithecellobium mexicanum, Palo Chino, Palo Joso. We wish to thank Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for some of the information on this page. We share images and information with Wikipedia. Mexican Ebony can be a rounded shrub or small tree to 20 feet high and about 15 feet wide. With more water, it can reach 45 feet tall and 30 feet wide. Havardia mexicana or Pithecellobium mexicanum, at it is also known, has gray - green deciduous compound leaves, divided into tiny rounded leaflets 1/4 inch long. Its slender branches bear pairs of 1/8-inch curved thorns. In March and April, fluffy, cream - colored flowers about 1 inch in diameter appear, followed by brown leathery pods, 1 inch wide and three inches long. Quick Notes: Height: Up 20 feet high and about 15 feet wide. Can reach 45 feet tall and 30 feet wide. Flowers: Fluffy, cream - colored, fairyduster-like flowers, approximately 1 inch in diameter. Blooming Time: March and April. Seed Pods: Brown leathery pods, 1 inch wide and three inches long. Leaves: Gray-green deciduous foliage divided into tiny rounded leaflets 1/4 inch long. Found: Native of Sonora and Baja, Mexico. at elevations from 500 to 2,500 feet. Elevation: 0 -3,800 Feet. Hardiness: Claimed to be hardy to 18 �F. USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 �C (15 �F) USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 �C (20 �F) USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 �C (25 �F) USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 �C (30 �F) USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 �C (35 �F) USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 �C (40 �F) Soil pH requirements: 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline) Sun Exposure: Full Sun Habitat: Loose well drained soil. Arroyos, desert slopes, and on valley floors, to 3,800 feet. It is remarkably tolerant of alkali. Miscellaneous: Maintenance: Low. Not salt tolerant. This plant can be seen at the City of Chandler Xeriscape Demonstration Garden; in Chandler Arizona. It is at: 410 N. Arrowhead Dr. At the northeast corner of Erie St. and Arrowhead Dr.