Velvet mesquite is most commonly found growing as a round shrub that is five to ten feet tall. It was once more common as a 30-foot tall tree that boasted a trunk three to four feet thick. Most of the large, ancient mesquites along the San Pedro River were cut down for fuel more than 100 years ago. Now, the newer, shrubbier mesquite is invading grassland habitats. There may be several reasons for this, including lack of wildfire, climate change, and land management practices.
Mesquites provide excellent habitat for birds and other wildlife.
Their nutrient-rich seed pods are a popular food item for many animals, especially coyotes, and in the past, people. Sacaton is a large and beautiful bunchgrass that grows in the floodplain of the San Pedro River. When mature, it can rise to over six feet in height. The Sacaton turns green during the summer rainy season. Its seeds are eaten by insects, birds, and rodents, and its leaves and stems provide shelter and nesting sites for many animals.