Velvet Mesquite

Mesquite is the most widely used and valued plant for indigenous cultures across the desert southwest.

Velvet mesquite is a long-lived desert tree native to the American Southwest, historically tended and relied upon by Indigenous peoples for food, shade, fuel, and land stewardship. Exceptionally drought-tolerant, it thrives in hot, arid climates while stabilizing soil and improving fertility through nitrogen fixation.

The sweet seed pods have been traditionally ground into mesquite flour for food, while the tree itself provides valuable forage, wildlife habitat, wind protection, and deep-rooted resilience. Well suited for regenerative agriculture, silvopasture, and desert food forests, velvet mesquite supports both people and ecosystems for generations.