The velvet mesquite is a fast growing medium sized tree with thorns that matures up to 40 feet tall and wide. The fern-like leaves and fruit have short dense hairs that give them the appearance of velvet.  It is winter deciduous in areas of frost. The Velvet Mesquite produces fragrant spikes of yellow flowers in April and sometimes again in August when it rains. This is an excellent shade tree, but needs a fair amount of room due to horizontal branching.