Honey mesquite is a shrub or small tree that can grow up to 30 feet tall, with a crown that spreads as wide as or wider than its height. The twigs are equipped with sharp thorns, some reaching up to 2 inches long, particularly on younger plants. Its leaves are twice-compound, deciduous, and bright green with a feathery appearance. The leaflets can grow up to 2 inches long and 3/16 inch wide. Small, yellow-green, fragrant flowers appear in dense, spike-like clusters from April to August, particularly during wet summers. The fruit is a long, yellowish-brown pod, slightly flattened with subtle constrictions between the seeds.

Southwestern Native Americans traditionally ground the pods into meal or cakes. True to its name, honey mesquite is also a valuable source of nectar for bees. The term "mesquite" is derived from the Spanish adaptation of the Aztec word "mizquitl."

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