No. We had trouble growing one here in Temecula, and we're sunnier and hotter than you.

Parkinsonia aculeata, MEXICAN PALO VERDE, should grow fine there. It's the more open type than the traditional "palo verde" (Cercidium), which does require considerable heat to do well.

It will also tolerate the "breezes" (no strong winds, I hope) and the bit of shade in the winter.

Also fyi, there are MANY trees that are drought tolerant that would do better for you in San Pedro.

Joe

I'm going to disagree and say that I see many, many healthy palo verde trees around San Pedro, Lomita and Torrance. Whether they are Cercidium floridium, Cercidium microphyllum, Parkinsonia aculeata or some other palo verde species I couldn't say.

I considered them, then chose two Chilopsis linearis trees instead.

I'm willing to bet that all the healthy ones you would be seeing around San Pedro are the Mexican Palo Verde, Parkinsonia aculeata. They have the same green trunks, vivid yellow flowers in late spring into summer, and wispy foliage, but the true Palo Verde/Cercidium species are a more distinctive tree when you see them side by side. Parkinsonia also does very well up here in the SF Bay Area, where it is common enough. There is still no comparison between one grown in hotter, sunnier situations like more inland valleys away from the coast and the same tree planted in less than full sun and subject to sea breezes off the bay; where they bloom much later in summer because it doesn't get hot, and are more prone to getting attacked by scale and mealybugs.

I personally like Mexican Palo Verde trees, because they give that desert look here where we don't have near enough heat for Cercidium. They do have their downsides, however, as they are messy trees, dropping a lot of fine foliage that gets caught up in plants below them, and not good over paving, where the constant rain of debris always needs sweeping up. You can't beat them for the cheery shot of bright yellow, which can completely cover the tree, and the fine textured foliage only casts light shade, is a nice soft light apple green color which contrasts very well with darker foliage, and the smooth green trunks are spectacular. Very fast growing with little water needed, as well, usually topping out at about 18 feet or so in height by across.