Dermatophyllum secundiflorum
Synonym: Sophora secundiflora
As the weather warms, one of the first plants to bloom in southeast Texas is the beautiful evergreen shrub or small tree, Texas Mountain Laurel. Its clusters of purple, pea-like blossoms are attractive to bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and people! These flowers not only look beautiful but also permeate the air with a fragrance that smells similar to artificial grape products.
Texas Mountain Laurels begin blooming in February and continue to bloom until mid-April. Observe your local community to see the vibrant pop of color from this Texas native and read on to learn how it can become a striking addition to your own garden.
Features & Importance of Texas Mountain Laurels
This attractive plant has bark that ranges from dark brown to nearly black. Abundant bloom clusters produce attractive seed pods that contain beautiful red, orange or maroon seeds. The seeds are so stunning that Native Americans used them as a decorative item on clothing and in ceremonies. Of note, the seeds contain a poisonous alkaloid which affects humans and animals; however, the seed coat is extremely hard and would have to be broken and chewed to cause damage.
While the Texas Mountain Laurel is a beautiful accent tree for small spaces, it is also an important nectar plant for many types of bees and butterflies, as well as hummingbirds. Texas Mountain Laurel is one of the host plants for the Henry’s Elfin butterfly. When the larvae hatch, they eat the flower buds and small leaves and do not defoliate the trees.
If you notice these caterpillars munching on your Texas Mountain Laurel flower buds, be sure to protect them. These will pupate and hatch into the Henry’s Elfin butterfly! The Henry’s Elfin larvae may be either green or red, as pictured below. Plant a Texas Mountain Laurel this year to support this resident pollinator!
How to Grow Texas Mountain Laurels
Our local Plant Hardiness Zone 9b has perfect conditions for this plant to thrive, making this a low-maintenance addition to your home landscape once mature. Texas Mountain Laurel grows slowly, with patience required to establish the plant. Plant these trees in well-drained soil and in a location that receives full sun. For the first few weeks, water daily. Then water every four to seven days for the remainder of the first year. When the plant is established, water every two to three weeks in the spring, then once a week in summer, and once a month in fall and winter. When the plant is mature, it will reach eight to fifteen feet in height and may be up to ten feet wide. At this point, the plant will be drought tolerant and cold hardy up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit.
Texas Mountain Laurel shrubs or trees are very useful in the home landscape. Their small size allows them to be planted in courtyards, near patios, or as an understory tree beneath taller mature trees. Enhance your home landscape with this beautiful, evergreen fragrant plant which will attract many pollinators and hummingbirds to your property.
