Mexican Buckeye
Ungnadia speciosa
A large deciduous tree with showy pink spring flowers and interesting seed pods, offering generous shade.
Cold hardy to about 0-10°F from low to high desert; deciduous, frost hardy, and heat tolerant.
AMWUA Notes
Low water; valued for spring bloom and fall color, though its seeds are toxic.
Care Guide
Deep-soak every two weeks in summer once established; a bit more water helps in reflected heat.
Train the multi-trunk form to a small tree or leave as a large shrub; prune after spring bloom since flowers form on old wood, and remove suckers.
Minimal feeding.
Essentially pest-free.
Fragrant pink flowers in early spring before or with the leaves; deciduous with fall color and three-lobed pods holding toxic seeds.
Soil, Feeding & Propagation
Well-draining rocky, limestone, or decomposed-granite soil; tolerates caliche and alkaline pH 7.5–8.5
Needs well-drained soil.
Low feeder.
Grown from seed (the toxic dark seeds) or from softwood cuttings
20–30 ft
Non-aggressive roots are foundation-safe; site away from play areas because the seeds are toxic if eaten
Placement Tips
- •Give room for the wide spread; a good understory or garden-edge tree that tolerates part shade.
- •Seed pods drop and the seeds are toxic if eaten, so site away from areas where pets or children play.
- •Deciduous in winter, so pair with evergreens for year-round structure.
- •Thornless and pool-safe at a moderate distance.
Features
Best Uses
Companion Plants
Quick Stats
Design Styles
Include in Your Project
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Use this care guide to maintain your Mexican Buckeye. Questions about your landscape? Reach out anytime.
Data from 2024 AMWUA “Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert” guide.
Mexican Buckeye — common questions
Answers for low-desert Phoenix conditions, drawn from this plant’s growing data.
How much water does Mexican Buckeye need in Phoenix?
Mexican Buckeye is a low-water tree once established. Deep-soak every two weeks in summer once established; a bit more water helps in reflected heat. Low water; valued for spring bloom and fall color, though its seeds are toxic.
How big does Mexican Buckeye get?
Expect roughly 35 ft tall and 35 ft wide at maturity, with a moderate growth rate. Allow about 20–30 ft of spacing when planting. Non-aggressive roots are foundation-safe; site away from play areas because the seeds are toxic if eaten.
Can you plant Mexican Buckeye near a pool?
Yes. Mexican Buckeye is considered pool-friendly, meaning it stays clean enough around water features and hardscape. Litter is rated seasonal.
Can Mexican Buckeye handle Arizona heat and winter frost?
Mexican Buckeye is hardy in USDA 9-11 and wants partial shade. Cold hardy to about 0-10°F from low to high desert; deciduous, frost hardy, and heat tolerant. Fragrant pink flowers in early spring before or with the leaves; deciduous with fall color and three-lobed pods holding toxic seeds.
Does Mexican Buckeye have thorns?
No. Mexican Buckeye is thornless, so it is safe alongside walkways, patios and play areas.
Is Mexican Buckeye safe around pets?
Mexican Buckeye is not listed as pet-friendly, so keep it out of areas where pets graze or chew, and check with your vet if you are unsure.
When does Mexican Buckeye bloom in Arizona?
Mexican Buckeye blooms in spring, with pink flowers.
How much maintenance does Mexican Buckeye need?
Mexican Buckeye is moderate-maintenance. Leaf, flower and pod litter is rated seasonal. Train the multi-trunk form to a small tree or leave as a large shrub; prune after spring bloom since flowers form on old wood, and remove suckers.
What kind of soil does Mexican Buckeye need?
Well-draining rocky, limestone, or decomposed-granite soil; tolerates caliche and alkaline pH 7.5–8.5. Nutrient needs are low. Minimal feeding.
Is Mexican Buckeye native to Arizona?
No. Mexican Buckeye is not an Arizona native; it originates from the TX, NM, Northern Mexico, but it is grown successfully in low-desert landscapes here.