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Marcus, Joseph A.

Aloysia macrostachya

Aloysia macrostachya (Torr.) Moldenke

Rio Grande Beebrush, Woolly Bee-brush

Verbenaceae (Verbena Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: ALMA9

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

This species is a member of the verbena family (family Verbenaceae), which includes about 75 genera and 3,000 species of herbs, shrubs, and trees, mostly of tropical and warm temperate regions. Among them, teak is a highly prized furniture wood, and Vervain, Lantana, Lippia or Frogfruit, and Chase Tree or Vitex are grown as ornamentals.

From the Image Gallery

39 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous , Evergreen
Fruit Type: Schizocarp
Size Notes: Up to about 12 feet tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Purple
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep

Distribution

USA: TX
Native Habitat: Southwest United Sates into Mexico. Poor rocky soil to sandy loam.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Moist
Heat Tolerant: yes
Conditions Comments: Wooly Bee-brush is an attractive shrub with an airy texture and long blooming season. May be elegantly pruned into a multi-trunk form. This plant may freeze down to ground 1 in 5 winters, but will re-sprout again the next spring. Seeds germinate easily and cuttings root well.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Fragrant Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Nectar Source: yes
Deer Resistant: High

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Texas Discovery Gardens - Dallas, TX
National Butterfly Center - Mission, TX
NPSOT - Williamson County Chapter - Georgetown, TX

Web Reference

Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Webref 1 - Texas Native Shrubs (2002) Texas A&M University Agriculture Program and Leslie Finical, Dallas Arboretum

Additional resources

USDA: Find Aloysia macrostachya in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Aloysia macrostachya in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Aloysia macrostachya

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-05-25
Research By: NPC, MWJ

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