Texas Kidneywood
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Also known as Texas Kidneywood, Kidneywood, Bee Brush, Vara Dulce, Palo Dulce
Texas kidneywood is a charming shrub that can grow between 3 to 10 feet tall, with a lovely, open structure that's both airy and inviting. Its leaves and flowers are dotted with glands, giving off a delightful, aromatic fragrance. The 3 to 4-inch spikes of white flowers not only bring beauty but also fill the air with their sweet scent, complemented by the finely divided, deciduous leaves. Each leaf can be up to 3.5 inches long and features a central axis with as many as 40 small leaflets, each about 1/4 inch. When you crush them, they release a burst of aroma! The delicate white flowers arrange themselves in charming spikes that can grow up to 4.5 inches long, appearing intermittently from May to October, followed by small fruit pods about 3/8 inch long, often topped with a threadlike tip. These seed pods stick around for a while, too.
This lovely tree, along with its relative, E. orthocarpa from the West, has found its place in traditional remedies for kidney and bladder issues, which is quite fascinating! The kidneywood foliage boasts a zesty, citrusy scent that attracts buzzing bees to its delightful blooms throughout the warm months. The enchanting Dogface butterfly also enjoys the kidneywood as a meal during its larval stage. With a little care and thoughtful pruning, you can shape this plant into a petite tree! It might lose some leaves during dry spells, but rest assured, it's quite drought-tolerant.
Butterfly Host Plant: Southern Dogface (Zerene cesonia); Arizona Skipper (Codatractus arizonensis)
Height: 8'-10'
Spread: 6’-8'
Bloom: April-October
Light: Full Sun, Part Shade
Water: Low
Zone: 8, 9, 10, 11
Origin: Texas
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.
