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March 8, 2023

NM Interfaith Power and Light Tree Giveaway - SPRING 2023

NM IPL and El Paso region is pleased to offer seedling trees and bushes to faith communities and individuals in mid-March 2023. Stock was limited this year from nurseries due to the fires impacting some growing centers. We ask each community to initially order no more than 6 total seedlings. Let us know if you would be interested in more so we can put you on a list if there are extras. Please order in advance by emailing Carlos at [email protected] giving your order, name, address, phone number and email address and your faith community, if applicable, so we can contact you and keep track of orders. Pick up of seedlings will be in Albuquerque in mid-March 2023. We will contact you when they arrive, but probably for March 14-15. Thank you for your interest in our desert terrain compatible seedlings and for caring for our sacred creation and climate. We have available Wafer Ash, Desert Willow, Mountain Mahoghany and Skunkbush Sumac. 

Peace and good----Interfaith Forest of Bliss Project

PS. If you would like to help the Albuquerque Valle del Oro plant trees Saturday, March 11 contact Ann [email protected] to learn how to register.

Wafer Ash or Hoptree    Ptelea trifoliata

Growth Rate: Slow-Moderate

Mature Height:         up to 25 feet

Water Requirements: Low-Moderate

Alkalinity Tolerance: Moderate

Preferred Elevation: 4000 - 9000

Cold Hardiness:         Excellent

Color: Dark green

Suggested Uses:        wildlife habitat, windbreaks

Pest Problems:          none serious

Tree Description:      This native tree also known as wafer ash reaches up to 25 feet with a crown spread of 10 to 15 feet. The leaves are trifoliate and are four to six inches in length and turn yellow in the fall. Their flowers are inconspicuous greenish-white and have an orange blossom-like perfume. Its fruit attracts bird, squirrels and other mammals. Grows on dry, rocky slopes to valley bottoms. It has medium salinity tolerance, medium calcium carbonate tolerance, and intermediate shade tolerance. The optimum soil pH is 4.8 to 7.0.

SKUNKBUSH SUMAC - Rhus trilobata

 Growth Rate: Moderate

Mature Height:         4-6 feet

Water Requirements: Low

Alkalinity Tolerance: Moderate-High

Preferred Elevation: 4500 - 8000

Cold Hardiness:         Excellent

Color: Green leaves, white showy flowers and red fall colors.

Suggested Uses:        windbreaks, wildlife plantings, and erosion control.

Pest Problems:          no serious pests.

Tree Description:      Skunkbush sumac is a deciduous, multi-branched and spreading shrub. It occurs along stream banks and forest openings but is most common and abundant on dry, rocky slopes throughout Arizona and New Mexico at elevations from 3500 to 8000 feet. This shrub is very winter hardy and tolerant of drought and high alkali soils. The fruits are red-orange and the flowers are yellowish and conspicuously in clusters. Besides having brilliant orange-red fall colors it is an important fall and winter food for songbirds and emergency food for game birds. This species is also an important browse species for mule deer. Clusters of small yellow flowers bloom in late May and produce a small red edible fruit. It has low calcium carbonate tolerance and no salinity tolerance. Optimum soil pH is 6.5 to 8.2. It has intermediate shade tolerance. The width is between 6 and 8 feet.



MOUNTAIN MAHOGANY - Cercocarpus montanus

 Growth Rate: Moderate

Mature Height:         15 feet

Water Requirements: Moderate

Alkalinity Tolerance: Moderate

Preferred Elevation: 4500 - 8000

Cold Hardiness:         Good-Excellent

Color: Green leaves and feathery white fruit.

Suggested Uses:        wildlife habitat, and erosion control.

Pest Problems:          no serious pest problems.

Tree Description:      Mountain Mahogany is beautiful in late summer and fall, when the white tails of the fruit look like a threaded needle or a narrow delicate feather. It is a native shrub found on the limestone soils of the rolling plains and northern Trans-Pecos on rocky uplands. The leaves and twigs are browsed by elk and deer. It is an excellent species for reclamation of disturbed areas. It has high calcium carbonate tolerance and no salinity tolerance. The optimum soil pH is 6.0 to 8.0. It has intermediate shade tolerance. The width is between 8 and 15 feet.

DESERT WILLOW - Chilopsis linearis

 Growth Rate: Fast

Mature Height:         25 feet

Water Requirements: Low

Alkalinity Tolerance: High

Preferred Elevation: 3000 - 6000

Cold Hardiness:         Fair-Good

Color: It has showy white and pink flowers

Suggested Uses:  windbreaks, erosion control, screens, and wildlife plantings.

Pest Problems:  no major pests.

Tree Description:      A native shrub or small tree found in washes and along roadsides. This species is tolerant of poor soils and considerable drought. This deciduous plant is classified as a phreatophyte, and is an indicator that water is not too far below the surface during part of the year. The wood is often used for fence posts. It has medium calcium carbonate tolerance and low salinity tolerance. The optimum soil pH is 6.6 to 10.0. It has intermediate shade tolerance. The crown width averages 20 feet.