Prickly acacia has circular yellow flower heads about 8mm in diameter. The flowers produce dark brown, woody pods which contain only one or two seeds each. Life history Mesquite is a long-lived perennial, spread only by seed. Shrubs do not flower until they are two or more years old. Flowering begins in April and peaks in early summer but can occur as late as February.
Germination can take place under a wide range of conditions.
Shortly after germination a deep tap root is formed and surface roots spread out while the growth of aboveground parts is relatively slow. Ecology Mesquite grows well on a variety of soils including saline and highly alkaline areas, but makes the best growth on alluvial soils associated with water courses. It can draw water from deep in the soil profile. Seed production is variable but even in seasons of sparse rainfall, some plants may produce a crop of pods. Like many other legumes, mesquite forms a proportion of hard seeds which can remain dormant for many years.