Blackbrush Acacia
Vachellia rigidula
- Native to:
- Mexico, United States
Steve Hurst @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Vachellia
- Species:
- Vachellia rigidula
- USDA Symbol:
- VARI
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 450 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow, cream
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Syssphinx heiligbrodti
Reported Fauna Sightings
Butterflies:Mimosa Yellow (Eurema nise), Reakirt's Blue (Echinargus isola)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, bees, butterflies, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from roots and crown following fire. Typical of South Texas thornschrub adapted to periodic fire.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rocky, well-drained calcareous soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to arid regions, tolerates drought
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 7–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds have hard seed coat requiring scarification (mechanical or hot water treatment) for best germination. Germinates readily after treatment.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI