Huisache, or Sweet Acacia, derives its name from the Nahuatl word meaning "many thorns." While the tree's dark bark has long been used for tanning hides, the floral essence extracted from its sunny, yellow blooms are used in perfumery. The plant also has homeopathic uses in the treatment of malaria.
Texas Native
Fragrant Flowers
Pollinator Plant
Thorny
Nitrogen Fixer
About This Plant
Did You Know?
Huisache flowers are so intensely fragrant that the French perfume industry once imported them by the ton to make high-end perfumes. The scent compound from huisache is still used in some luxury fragrances today.
Growing Details
Sun
Full Sun
Water
Very Low — Xeriscape
Soil
Clay, caliche, sandy
Range
TX, Mexico, tropical Americas
Family
Fabaceae (Legume)
Bloom
Earliest tree in RGV
Wildlife Value
- First major nectar source of the year for native bees and butterflies in February
- Dense thorny branches shelter Verdin, Cactus Wren, and Pyrrhuloxia nests
- Seed pods eaten by Gambel's Quail and white-tailed deer
- Roots fix nitrogen, enriching soil for neighboring plants
Photos
Flowers
Seed Pods
Thorns
Full Tree
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