Littleleaf Leadtree
(Leucaena retusa)
Littleleaf Leadtree (Leucaena retusa)
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Jo Roberts
CC BY 4.0
Image By:
Jo Roberts
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Jo Roberts | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Rights Holder: Jo Roberts | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2021-05-06T11:37:04-07:00 |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Leucaena retusa, commonly known as Littleleaf Leadtree, is a semi-deciduous to deciduous tree or large shrub native to the Chihuahuan Desert and semi-arid regions, including arroyos and desert grasslands in Texas, New Mexico, and Northeastern Mexico. It typically grows to a height of up to 7.5 meters (25 feet), with a spreading, open canopy that provides dappled shade. The leaves are bright green to blue-green, bipinnately compound with numerous small leaflets, giving a fine-textured appearance. The spherical, creamy white to pale yellow flowers bloom from April through October, with peak flowering often occurring after rainfall, and are quite showy, attracting pollinators. The fruit is a long, slender legume pod that can reach up to 25 cm (10 in) in length. The wood of Littleleaf Leadtree is relatively weak and prone to breakage.
Littleleaf Leadtree is valued for its drought tolerance and its ability to thrive in alkaline soils, making it an excellent choice for xeriscaping and low-water-use gardens. It is also used as an ornamental plant for its attractive foliage and profuse flowering. In cultivation, it requires full sun exposure and can tolerate a range of soil types, provided they have good drainage. While it is easy to grow from seed and can reseed itself, care should be taken as it may become weedy or invasive in some areas. It is also suitable for erosion control due to its extensive root system.CC BY-SA 4.0
Littleleaf Leadtree is valued for its drought tolerance and its ability to thrive in alkaline soils, making it an excellent choice for xeriscaping and low-water-use gardens. It is also used as an ornamental plant for its attractive foliage and profuse flowering. In cultivation, it requires full sun exposure and can tolerate a range of soil types, provided they have good drainage. While it is easy to grow from seed and can reseed itself, care should be taken as it may become weedy or invasive in some areas. It is also suitable for erosion control due to its extensive root system.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Tree, Shrub
- Height: 20-25 feet
- Width: 15-25 feet
- Growth Rate: Rapid
- Flower Color: Yellow
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Leaf Retention: Semi-Deciduous, Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun
- Water: Low
- Drainage: Fast, Medium
Common Uses
Drought Tolerant, Low Maintenance, Showy Flowers
Natural Habitat
Chihuahuan Desert and semi-arid regions, including arroyos and desert grasslands
Other Names
Common Names: Goldenball Leadtree, Wahoo Tree, Lemonball
Scientific Names: , Leucaena retusa, Acacia sabeana, Caudoleucaena retusa,
GBIF Accepted Name: Leucaena retusa Benth.