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Flower

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Leguminosae (Fabaceae)

Wright acacia is the most cold hardy of Texas's acacia trees. Its clusters of fragrant white flower spikes, feathery leaves, and relative freedom from insect pests and diseases makes it a good landscape tree for west Texas. It grows in dry, rocky limestone soils on prairies and plateaus and is highly drought tolerant, requiring little supplemental water once established. The twigs are armed with catclaw- like prickles and it resembles catclaw acacia, A. greggii, but A. wrightii has larger leaflets and wider seedpods.

Plant Habit or Use: large shrub small tree

Exposure: sun

Flower Color: white bottlebrush-like spikes

Blooming Period: spring

Fruit Characteristics: pod 1 to 6 in. long

Height: to 30 ft.

Width: to 35 ft.

Plant Character: evergreen semievergreen

Heat Tolerance: very high

Water Requirements: low

Soil Requirements: alkaline

USDA Hardiness Zone: 7

Additional Comments: Wright acacia, along with guajillo, Gregg, and Roemer acacias, is used to make Uvalde honey.