Texas Mountain Laurel
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Sophora secundiflora
Sophora secundiflora, also known as Mescal bean or Texas mountain laurel, is a shrub or small tree that grows from a few feet to more than 30 ft. in height. Its dense, dark green and glossy leaves comprise 7-9 leathery leaflets rounded at the ends, up to 2 inches long, and taper more gradually to the base than the tip. The bluish lavender flowers are very showy and fragrant and grow in 3-7 drooping clusters. The fruit is a semi-woody pod with bright red poisonous seeds.
This plant is very popular as a native evergreen ornamental tree within its range, valued for its handsome, dark green foliage and lush early spring blooms. It is drought-tolerant and prefers rocky limestone soil. It is native to central Texas, west to New Mexico, and south to San Luis Potosi in Mexico. Since it is a woody plant native to rocky soils, it grows slowly. The fragrance of Texas mountain laurel flowers has a pleasant aroma but can be overpoweringly strong and can waft a considerable distance from the plant.
The seeds of Mescal bean or Texas mountain laurel are bright red and contain the highly poisonous alkaloid cytisine (or sophorine), a substance related to nicotine. Indigenous people valued the brilliant, lacquer red seeds for ornament and ceremonial use. The bloom fragrance of Texas mountain laurel is often compared to artificial grape products such as grape Kool-Aid, grape bubble gum, grape soft drinks, etc.
Height: 15’-25’
Spread 8’-10’
Bloom: February-April
Light: Full Sun, Part Shade, Dappled Shade
Water: Low, Medium
Zone: 7, 8, 9, 10
Origin: Southwestern United States
Winter Shipping: We will continue to ship throughout winter. If you prefer, we are happy to hold your order until spring; please include that request in your shipping notes.
When you order plants from our nursery, you can expect them to arrive in the best possible condition. Our team carefully packs each order using sturdy, biodegradable packaging materials.
Your plants' appearance may vary depending on the season and their current growth stage. We may cut back the leafy growth of some plants to prepare them for shipment and transplanting.
5 Gallon and Up: Any plant purchased to ship over 5 Gallons will be shipped bare root. This means we will remove the plant from its original pot, remove the soil surrounding the roots, and wrap the roots with a biodegradable plastic bag. This reduces weight and the likelihood of damage during shipping.
Once your plants arrive, it is essential to plant them as soon as possible. This will help them rebound and thrive. If you cannot plant immediately, water regularly and keep the roots off heat-conducting surfaces.
Newly transplanted plants often require more water until their roots are well established. Plan to water them 1-3 times weekly for the first few months.
