Eysenhardtia Species, Bee Brush, Kidneywood, Texas Kidneywood, Vara Dulce

I planted it out and never watered it in hard raw stony limey dirt and it grew but it was uncaged and the deer have kept it a small heav...Read Moreily branched shrub. That was YEARS ago, more than a decade and it is still with us , so I am now growing lots from seed. maybe if I have more , I will get more blooms and taller plants.. I love the smell. I think I will cage these so they can get taller, more tree like.I have 10 more to plant out this winter.

Texas Kidneywood is the NorthEastern version of this shrub, with E. polystachya & E. orthocarpa to the South & West in Mexico. They're a...Read Morell rangy, tough shrubs with sweet-smelling white flowers after summer rain. Many pollinators flock to them, & they're reportedly good honey plants. E. texana can be kept pruned into a small, rugged tree... very attractive. Mine has been vigorous & indestructible.
I'm in Houston, about 100 miles East of its native range (Hill country south to the Valley) but it has thrived in full sun, in a completely neglected area by the street. It's about 10 years old & 15 feet tall. As an added bonus, when pruning it, the foliage smells delicious. (Hard to describe, but citrus-spicy with a meatiness to it; don't eat it though!) Update January 2016: The power company replaced a phone pole & demolished the Kidneywood tree! It was around 15 feet high; bought another in 1gal pot at Buchanon's to plant in the same spot, beside the new phone pole.

Planted two of these in a cactus rock garden driveway entry a couple of years ago. They get no supplemental water (500 feet from the hou...Read Morese), but have easily survived the last two years' drought. There was a little die back from our record cold this winter (55 freezes), but they trimmed up nicely and are doing fine. A great xeriscaping shrub/small tree. Acquired from Stuart Nursery in Weatherford.

Attractive little tree that attracts a variety of bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects. Drought and heat tolerant. Tripled in...Read More size over the summer and really filled out, began blooming profusely in mid September. Am very happy with this nice easy care native tree and plan to add more next year.