Catclaw Acacia
Senegalia wrightii
- Native to:
- Mexico, United States
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Senegalia
- Species:
- Senegalia wrightii
- USDA Symbol:
- SEWR4
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 900 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- white, cream
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Burns' buck moth (Hemileuca burnsi), Hubbard's silk moth (Syssphinx hubbardi), Melipotis novanda, tricolor buckmoth (Hemileuca tricolor), Zaleops umbrina
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: ⚠️Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) Hummingbirds: Costa's Hummingbird (Calypte costae) Butterflies:Marine Blue (Leptotes marina)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, birds, small mammals, butterflies
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from roots and crown following fire; common in fire-prone desert grasslands and thornscrub.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained sandy or rocky soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to arid and semi-arid regions
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Scarification of hard seed coat required; hot water treatment or mechanical scarification recommended. Seeds germinate readily after treatment.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).; then Scarify, then cold-moist stratify for 60 days.
Source: Claude AI