Xeriscape Landscaping Plants For The Arizona Desert Environment
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Trees

Mexican Buckeye, Ungnadia speciosa

Mexican Buckeye, Ungnadia speciosa Photo Taken At Glendale Xeriscape Demonstration Garden. May 10, 2006.

Mexican Buckeye, Ungnadia speciosa	Mexican Buckeye, Ungnadia speciosa
Mexican Buckeye, Ungnadia speciosa	Mexican Buckeye, Ungnadia speciosa
Mexican Buckeye, Ungnadia speciosa Sead Pod & Seeds	Mexican Buckeye Ungnadia speciosa Seeds
Mexican Buckeye, Ungnadia speciosa Seedlings	Mexican Buckeye Ungnadia speciosa Sprouts
Mexican Buckeye, Ungnadia speciosa Flowers	Mexican Buckeye Ungnadia speciosa Flower

Mexican Buckeye Ungnadia speciosa, Soapberry Family: ( Sapindaceae ), Mexican Buckeye: Also called; Texas Buckeye, Monilla. Mexican buckeye can be either a shrub or small deciduous tree; that grows multi trunked or single stemmed, with with light gray to brown bark, smooth on young branches becoming fissured with age. It has an irregular overall shape which can be trimmed into a nice shape. Mexican-buckeye normally grows to be 8 - 12 feet tall but it can reach 30 feet in height. Its purple flowers bloom in the spring. Flowers emerge as the immature foliage starts to grow. Its leaves are up to 12 inches long with a central axis supporting 2 to 6 paired leaflets and a terminal one; its leaflets are up to 5 inches long, ovate to narrow, with an elongate tip, rounded base, and serrate margins. Its pinnate foliage turns golden yellow in fall, with decorative 3 compartment seed pods on the bare branches in the winter. The seed are poisonous, round, shiny, black and hard. The seeds are sometimes used by children as marbles. Because of its drought tolerance, attractive flowers, and size, Mexican Buckeye is great for xeriscaping. Well, we have some good news! We have learned how to get these plants to grow! First, gather the seed as soon as the seed pod ripens, before it falls from the plant or very soon after for best results. We found that some older seeds also will grow by the same method. Second, scarification of the seeds is necessary. We hold the seeds in a pair of pliers and scrape them through the black seed coat, with a file, until the cream white part of the seed embryo starts to show. Avoid touching the seed scar where the seed was attached to the seed pod. Third, we plant them in a Jiffy Regular Windowsill Greenhouse, which holds 12 seed pellets. Of course, any other type of seed pellet should work. Fourth, set them next to a window on the inside of your home where the temperature is about 75 - 80 degrees F. Two to three days later, the seed shoots start to appear and in about 4 - 5 days they are starting to grow! But, we found that all seeds collected will not grow! After about two weeks we transplant them to larger pots before setting out to grow on their own, the next year. Height: Up To 8 to 12 feet tall. But can become a small tree to 30 feet tall. Flowers: Small, fragrant, and pink to purple, appearing in closely attached clusters. Blooming Time: Mid March to April.. Leaves: Compound leaves 5 to 12 inches long with 5 to 7 leaflets. Found: Native to mountain slopes and in canyons across the Trans Pecos and also in central Texas, extending south into Mexico. Elevation: 0 - 3,800 Feet. Habitat: Sandy desert soils, hot, sunny areas, good drainage, to 3,800 feet. Miscellaneous: Photo Taken At Glendale Xeriscape Demonstration Garden. May 10, 2006. A great Xeriscape plant.