Click on image for full screen view.

Foliage/fruit

Foliage

Rutaceae

Amyris texana is a densely branched shrub whose foliage and flowers smell like citrus when bruised. The dark green, shiny leaves are pinnately compound with 3 pairs of leaflets. It is found only in the chaparral and thickets in the very southernmost Rio Grande Plains and north along the Coastal Prairies and Marshes, often in sandy soils. Texas torchwood is generally an understory shrub that can grow in semi-shade or sun. It is hardy to about 20 degrees F. Greenish-white, aromatic flowers appear spring to fall, and the fruit is a small, dark, one-seeded drupe, valued by birds. Torchwoods are very tolerant of heat and drought, and because of this, plus their attractive foliage, long blooming period, fragrant flowers and value to wildlife, they are beginning to be used in landscaping in the southernmost part of the state.

Plant Habit or Use: small shrub
medium shrub
large shrub

Exposure: sun
partial sun

Flower Color: greenish white, inconspicuous

Blooming Period: spring
summer
fall

Fruit Characteristics: small dark drupe with one seed

Height: 3 to 10 feet

Width: 3 to 8 feet

Plant Character: evergreen

Heat Tolerance: very high

Water Requirements:

Soil Requirements: adaptable

USDA Hardiness Zone: 9

Additional Comments: The name "torchwood" refers to the fact that the wood ignites easily.