Resources Mexican Buckeye
Mexican Buckeye PDF
Ungnadia speciosa
The Mexican Buckeye is a deciduous ornamental tree that is native to Texas. It is relatively small, only reaching 8–12 ft. tall when mature. These trees often have multiple trunks and thus extend more horizontally than vertically.
The branches are relatively thin and wiry. The leaves are formed of two to six leaflets. The purple-pink flowers emerge early in the spring and attract pollinators. The fruit is small and has a hard exterior.
The Mexican Buckeye is very drought tolerant, and they do well in our chalky, limestone-rich soils. They grow best in full sun or partial shade.
Pros
- Very attractive year-round; vibrant pink flowers in the spring and yellow fall color
- Larval host to some species of butterflies
Considerations
- May be hard to obtain; nurseries often have trouble sourcing stock
