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Knight, Marilyn McBroom
Acacia roemeriana Scheele
Roundflower catclaw, Round-flower catclaw, Roemer acacia, Catclaw, Roemer’s acacia, Catclaw acacia
Fabaceae (Pea Family)
USDA Symbol: ACRO
USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.
This is a prickly, 3-7 ft., round-topped shrub or, more rarely, a small tree to 15 ft. with spreading branches. Branchlets with scattered straight or recurved prickles. Leaves divided into numerous leaflets 1/2 inch long or less. Fragrant, cream to greenish flowers 3/8 inch wide arising mostly from the axils of the leaves are followed by a narrow, leathery fruit. Fruit a brown to reddish, flat, curved pod up to 4 inches long and 1 1/8 inches broad. Young trunks are covered with smooth bark, becoming scaly with age.
Twigs are armed with short, curved prickles; hence the common name catclaw.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Shrub , Tree
Root Type: Tap
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Size Notes: 5 - 10
Flower:
Fruit: Brown
Size Class: 6-12 ft.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: White , GreenBloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug
Distribution
USA: NM , TXNative Distribution: C. TX to s. Trans-Pecos; adjacent Mex.
Native Habitat: Hillsides, Slopes, Chaparral & brush country
USDA Native Status: L48(N)
Growing Conditions
Water Use: LowLight Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Gravelly, Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay, Limestone-based, Rocky soils.
Conditions Comments: Good honey plant.
Benefit
Use Ornamental: Showy, Attractive, Blooms ornamentalUse Wildlife: Flowers a source of honey. Cover, Nesting site, Nectar-bees, Nectar-butterflies, Nectar-insects
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Fragrant Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Mr. Smarty Plants says
Native plants for butterfly garden in Waco, TX
February 03, 2008
Few weeks ago I sent you a letter but never got an answer back.
I would like to have your suggestions of native plants for a butterfly garden (30'x 30') here in Waco. The plants must be (1)drought ...
view the full question and answer
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX
NPSOT - Austin Chapter - Austin, TX
Herbarium Specimen(s)
NPSOT 1070 Collected Apr 29, 1996 in Bexar County by Mike FoxNPSOT 1065 Collected Apr 8, 1996 in Bexar County by Mike Fox
NPSOT 0752 Collected Apr 10, 1994 in Comal County by Mary Beth White
NPSOT 1048 Collected Apr 16, 1993 in Bexar County by Lottie Millsaps
Wildflower Center Seed Bank
LBJWC-MEM-1 Collected 2009-06-26 in Mason County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower CenterBibliography
Bibref 354 - Native & Naturalized Woody Plants of Austin & the Hill Country (1981) Lynch, D.Bibref 995 - Native Landscaping from El Paso to L.A. (2000) Wasowski, S. and A. Wasowski
Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender
Bibref 297 - Trees of Central Texas (1984) Vines, Robert A.
Bibref 286 - Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country (1989) Enquist, M.
Search More Titles in Bibliography
Recommended Species Lists
Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.
View Recommended Species pageAdditional resources
USDA: Find Acacia roemeriana in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Acacia roemeriana in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Acacia roemeriana
Metadata
Record Modified: 2013-03-25Research By: TWC Staff
