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Ironwood

Also known as

Olneya, ironwood, desert ironwood and palo fierro

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Olneya tesota

Genus

Olneya

Family

Fabaceae

Order

Fabales

How to care for Ironwood

💦 Water

How often to water your Ironwood

Ironwood needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Ironwood in your home

Ironwood love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Ironwood does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Ironwood in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Ironwood

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Ironwood: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Ironwood after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

💡 FAQs

💦 Water Needs

Ironwood prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Ironwood Water Frequency →

Ironwood Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Ironwood requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Ironwood Light Requirements →

Ironwood Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Ironwood is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Ironwood will branch off as it grows. To encourage branching, pinch off the newest growth at the tip and the stem will branch off into two.

Ironwood Lifecycle →

Ironwood Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Ironwood →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Ironwood can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Ironwood Temperature Tolerance →

Landscaping Ideas with Ironwood →

When to Plant Ironwood →

How to Plant Ironwood →

Where to Plant Ironwood →

Winter Care for Ironwood →

Best Companion Plants for Ironwood →

Is Ironwood a Weed? →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Ironwood, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.

What Eats Ironwood? →