Mexican Buckeye
(Ungnadia speciosa)
Mexican Buckeye (Ungnadia speciosa)
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Luc Wyn
CC BY 4.0
Image By:
Luc Wyn
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Luc Wyn | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Rights Holder: Luc Wyn | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2021-03-15T13:07:08-07:00 |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Ungnadia speciosa, commonly known as Mexican Buckeye, is a deciduous shrub or small tree native to limestone outcrops, rocky hillsides, and arroyos in the South-Central United States and northeastern Mexico. It typically grows to a height of 8 to 12 feet (2.4 to 3.7 meters) with a similar spread, and it is often multi-trunked with a rounded form. The Mexican Buckeye is notable for its showy clusters of pink to lavender flowers that bloom in early spring before the foliage emerges, making it a valuable early nectar source for pollinators. The bark is gray and smooth, becoming furrowed with age. The fruit is a three-lobed capsule containing glossy, brown seeds that resemble buckeyes, hence the common name.
Mexican Buckeye is appreciated for its drought tolerance, low maintenance requirements, and ornamental qualities, including its attractive flowers and yellow to greenish-yellow fall foliage. It is used in xeriscaping, as a specimen plant, or in naturalized areas. It thrives in full sun to part shade and prefers well-drained soils, tolerating a range of soil types from sandy to clay. While the seeds are poisonous if ingested, they do not pose a significant risk to wildlife. The plant is generally pest and disease-free but can be susceptible to root rot in poorly drained soils. It is not considered invasive and is a good choice for gardeners seeking a native plant with wildlife value.CC BY-SA 4.0
Mexican Buckeye is appreciated for its drought tolerance, low maintenance requirements, and ornamental qualities, including its attractive flowers and yellow to greenish-yellow fall foliage. It is used in xeriscaping, as a specimen plant, or in naturalized areas. It thrives in full sun to part shade and prefers well-drained soils, tolerating a range of soil types from sandy to clay. While the seeds are poisonous if ingested, they do not pose a significant risk to wildlife. The plant is generally pest and disease-free but can be susceptible to root rot in poorly drained soils. It is not considered invasive and is a good choice for gardeners seeking a native plant with wildlife value.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Tree, Shrub
- Height: 25-30 feet
- Width: 10-15 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: Pink
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Low
- Drainage: Medium, Fast
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Fire Resistant, Fragrant, Low Maintenance, Rock Garden, Showy Flowers
Natural Habitat
Native to limestone outcrops, rocky hillsides, and arroyos in the South-Central United States and northeastern Mexico
Other Names
Common Names:
Scientific Names: , Ungnadia speciosa, Ungnadia heptaphylla, Ungnadia heterophylla,
GBIF Accepted Name: Ungnadia speciosa Endl.