Texas Ebony is treasured for its fragrant, late-summer blooms and hard wood that is used for fenceposts and "indestructible" furniture. The nearby town of Los Ebanos is named for the ebony tree on the banks of the Rio Grande River that anchors the United States' last hand-pulled ferry.
Texas Native
Evergreen
Nitrogen Fixer
Bird Friendly
Drought Tolerant
About This Plant
Did You Know?
Texas Ebony wood is so dense it sinks in water. Historically prized for making tool handles and fence posts, the wood is resistant to rot and insects for decades.
Growing Details
Sun
Full Sun
Water
Very Low — Xeriscape
Soil
Caliche, clay, rocky
Range
South TX & NE Mexico
Family
Fabaceae (Legume)
Growth
Slow — 1 ft/year
Wildlife Value
- Large seed pods eaten by white-tailed deer, javelinas, and ground squirrels
- Dense canopy shelters roosting Great Horned Owls and Harris's Hawks
- Fragrant summer flowers attract native bees when few other plants bloom
- Thorny branches protect Verdin and Cactus Wren nests from predators
Photos
Flowers
Seed Pods
Leaves
Full Tree
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