Havardia Species, Apes-Earring, Mimosa Bush, Tenaza

I saw this growing in someone’s garden in St. George, Utah (zone 8b/9a). It was already easily 15 feet tall and looked fantastic in Dec...Read Moreember! It was bigger than any specimen I’ve personally seen in Arizona, which blew me away. He had it planted up against a tall stucco wall along with columnar cacti, and many other exotic desert plants (for this area). The owner of the tree said it has grown fast, and stayed completely evergreen for him in southern Utah. I’m very curious to see how this species would fare out in the open! This was one of the coolest trees I’ve ever seen in Utah, and I hope it becomes a lot more available at nurseries in Washington county.

Two plants of 'Sierra Sparkler' and some seedlings have grown well in Jacksonville, Florida for several years. They are growing in high, ...Read Moresandy ground in sunny locations. It is an attractive small tree (so far) with fragrant, mimosa-like flowers that appear off and on through the summer.

A neat little shrub/tree that grows faster than I expected. The foliage is lush-looking yet delicate, and the white blooms "glow" especia...Read Morelly at dusk. It does have spines but nothing worse than your average rose bush.

One oddity I haven't heard mentioned anywhere else ... on mine at least, the foliage and the spent blooms smell like cat pee! Not strong, but definitely noticeable. At first I assumed the plant was attracting tomcats, but the odor is detectable all over the plant, even on branches 4' off the ground.

San Antonio, Tx.
This evergreen large shrub or small tree is native to Arizona, Mexico and Texas. In Texas, it is native to Camero...Read Moren, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy Counties and the coastal parts of the Rio Grande Plains; however, is also cultivated in other counties in Southwest Texas. Although it is found naturally by stream edges or near water holes, it adapts to dry locations as well and has a high heat tolerance.

The branches spread irregularly. The close grained wood is dark reddish-brown, very hard and covered with gray to reddish bark that breaks into tiny flakes. The wood is used to make small wooden objects because of its color and hardness. The airy branches produce small, mimosa type, delicate and pinnate leaves which goats and sheep enjoy munching. From May to August, fluffy fragrant white blooms appear especially after it rains. These blooms are similar to the mimosa tree's blooms and they attract bees. As a culitvated plant, it blooms more frequently. Tenazas' flowers attract bees, and sheep and goats browse the foliage. The 2 to 5 inch long lustrous seed pods are strikingly beautiful and change colors as they mature eventually turning a dark reddish brown. I can not fully describe the seed pods so I have posted a photo. The name, "Apes Earring", obviously is derived from the glossy multi-colored seed pods which have a loop at the top end which can be placed on the top of the ear so that the pods hang down like earrings. An unusual plant that is highly adaptable to many regions, the tenaza may gain in popularity in the cultivated landscape.