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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Vachellia tortuosa

Vachellia tortuosa (L.) Seigler & Ebinger

Poponax, Huisachillo

Fabaceae (Pea Family)

Synonym(s): Acacia tortuosa, Mimosa tortuosa, Poponax tortuosa

USDA Symbol: VATO2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), PR (N), VI (N)

Huisachillo is commonly considered a shrubby version of Huisache. It has a broad range, found from southern Texas and southern Florida in the north, down through the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America to northern South America. In Texas, it is found on limestone soils in the Rio Grande Plains, where it can grow into a tree of 15 to 20 feet, and on the southern edge of the Edwards Plateau. Huisachillo tolerates more cold than the taller Huisache (Acacia farnesiana). Its seed pod is 2 1/2 to 3 inches long and is covered with downy hairs, while that of Huisache is glabrous, shorter, and much more woody and rounded.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Fruit Type: Legume
Size Notes: Up to about 20 feet tall.
Fruit: Brown-black

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May

Distribution

USA: FL , TX
Native Distribution: Southern Texas and southern Florida south through the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America to northern South America.

Growing Conditions

Cold Tolerant: yes
Heat Tolerant: yes

Bibliography

Bibref 297 - Trees of Central Texas (1984) Vines, Robert A.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-10-11
Research By: TWC Staff

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