It was then known as Jerusalem Thorn. It is well established in tropical Queensland, the Northern Territory and parts of Western Australia. Hundreds of kilometres of the banks of Lake Argyle, Christmas Creek and the Ord, De Grey, Maitland and Ashburton rivers are infested with Parkinsonia. It forms dense thickets, mainly along water courses. These become virtually impenetrable.
Grazing is limited by the sharp spines.
Parkinsonia shades out other vegetation, hampers mustering, restricts grazing and blocks access to water points at dams and along rivers. It provides some grazing for sheep during the dry season, but cattle leave it alone. It is a perennial shrub or small tree growing up to 8 metres high. It usually has only a single stem but it may form branches close to the base following mechanical damage. The trunk and branches have dark green bark.