Porknut
Vachellia macracantha
- Native to:
- Argentina, Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, French Guiana, Galápagos, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Turks-Caicos Is., United States, Venezuelan Antilles, Virgin Islands, Windward Is.
Elbert L. Little, Jr., of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, and others
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Vachellia
- Species:
- Vachellia macracantha
- USDA Symbol:
- VAMA4
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 900 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, bees, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from roots and crown following fire; common in fire-prone tropical dry forests and thorn scrub.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- Common in arid and semi-arid regions
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 7–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds have hard seed coats requiring scarification (mechanical or hot water treatment) for best germination. Germinates readily after treatment.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI