Kidneywood
Eysenhardtia orthocarpa
A fragrant native tree with delicate white flower spikes that attract a cloud of bees and butterflies in summer.
Cold hardy to about 10-15°F in low and mid desert; frost hardy but drops its leaves in the cold.
AMWUA Notes
Low water; a native that supports many pollinators and reblooms after summer rains.
Care Guide
Deep-soak every two weeks in summer once established; bloom flushes after monsoon rains.
Light pruning only; thin the multi-trunk form to shape into a small tree or leave shrubby, working in late winter.
No fertilizer needed; a nitrogen-fixing native.
Essentially pest-free.
Fragrant white flower spikes in summer, reblooming after rain; semi-evergreen to drought-deciduous with aromatic foliage.
Soil, Feeding & Propagation
Well-draining rocky, gravelly, or decomposed-granite soil; tolerates caliche and alkaline pH 7.5–8.5
Needs well-drained soil.
None — thrives in lean desert soil without fertilizer.
Grown from seed; establishes readily from nursery transplants
8–10 ft
Modest, non-invasive roots; safe near pools, patios, and seating
Placement Tips
- •Small multi-trunk tree about 10 ft wide, ideal for patios and pollinator gardens.
- •Low litter and thornless, safe near pools and seating.
- •Site near patios and paths where brushing the foliage releases its citrus scent.
- •Grow as a small specimen or informal screen in full sun.
Features
Best Uses
Ecological Value
Attracts
Companion Plants
Quick Stats
Design Styles
Include in Your Project
Love Kidneywood? Our landscape team sources from wholesale nurseries and can incorporate it into your design.
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Use this care guide to maintain your Kidneywood. Questions about your landscape? Reach out anytime.
Data from 2024 AMWUA “Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert” guide.