Texas Ebony
Ebenopsis ebano
A rugged, dark-foliaged evergreen with fragrant cream-yellow blooms and exceptional drought tolerance.
Hardy to about 15-18°F in low and mid desert; young trees are frost-sensitive while mature trees are hardy.
AMWUA Notes
Very low water use; one of the most drought-tolerant evergreen shade trees.
Care Guide
Deep-soak monthly in summer once established; extremely drought tolerant.
Wear gloves for the thorns; prune in late winter to lift the canopy and develop a trunk. It shapes up slowly.
No fertilizer needed; a nitrogen-fixing legume.
Essentially pest-free.
Fragrant cream-yellow flowers late spring into summer; dark evergreen foliage with persistent woody seed pods.
Soil, Feeding & Propagation
Well-draining native, rocky, 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 scarified seed; slow-growing, so start from larger nursery stock
12–15 ft
Deep, non-aggressive roots are foundation-safe; keep 10+ ft from pools and paths for thorns and woody pods
Placement Tips
- •Dense 15 ft evergreen canopy for shade and privacy; keep 10+ ft from pools and walkways because of the medium thorns and woody pod litter.
- •Slow-growing, so buy a larger nursery size to establish faster.
- •Excellent low-water evergreen screen; full sun with good drainage.
- •Site away from high-traffic paths where the thorns could catch.
Features
Best Uses
Companion Plants
Quick Stats
Design Styles
Include in Your Project
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Use this care guide to maintain your Texas Ebony. Questions about your landscape? Reach out anytime.
Data from 2024 AMWUA “Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert” guide.
Texas Ebony — common questions
Answers for low-desert Phoenix conditions, drawn from this plant’s growing data.
How much water does Texas Ebony need in Phoenix?
Texas Ebony is a very low-water tree once established. Deep-soak monthly in summer once established; extremely drought tolerant. Very low water use; one of the most drought-tolerant evergreen shade trees.
How big does Texas Ebony get?
Expect roughly 20 ft tall and 15 ft wide at maturity, with a slow growth rate. Allow about 12–15 ft of spacing when planting. Deep, non-aggressive roots are foundation-safe; keep 10+ ft from pools and paths for thorns and woody pods.
Can you plant Texas Ebony near a pool?
Not ideally. Texas Ebony is not rated pool-friendly, so it is better placed away from the pool deck and skimmer. Litter is rated moderate.
Can Texas Ebony handle Arizona heat and winter frost?
Texas Ebony is hardy in USDA 9-11 and wants full sun. Hardy to about 15-18°F in low and mid desert; young trees are frost-sensitive while mature trees are hardy. Fragrant cream-yellow flowers late spring into summer; dark evergreen foliage with persistent woody seed pods.
Does Texas Ebony have thorns?
Yes — Texas Ebony has medium thorns. Site it back from walkways, seating and pool decks where people brush past.
Is Texas Ebony safe around pets?
Texas Ebony is listed as pet-friendly in this guide. If your dog is a determined chewer, check any new plant with your vet before planting.
When does Texas Ebony bloom in Arizona?
Texas Ebony blooms in late spring-summer, with cream-yellow flowers.
How much maintenance does Texas Ebony need?
Texas Ebony is moderate-maintenance. Leaf, flower and pod litter is rated moderate. Wear gloves for the thorns; prune in late winter to lift the canopy and develop a trunk. It shapes up slowly.
What kind of soil does Texas Ebony need?
Well-draining native, rocky, or decomposed-granite soil; tolerates caliche and alkaline pH 7.5–8.5. It needs no supplemental feeding. No fertilizer needed; a nitrogen-fixing legume.
Is Texas Ebony native to Arizona?
No. Texas Ebony is not an Arizona native; it originates from the Southern Texas, Mexico, but it is grown successfully in low-desert landscapes here.