Texas Mountain Laurel

Name: Texas Mountain Laurel
Brand: Outdoor Dream Builders

Dermatophyllum secundiflorum

A slow-growing evergreen tree with intensely fragrant purple blooms that smell like grape soda, a true desert garden gem.

Hardy to about 10°F in low and mid desert; evergreen, frost hardy, and heat-loving.

AMWUA Notes

Fruits are poisonous.

Care Guide

💧Watering

Deep-soak every 2-3 weeks in summer once established; a slow grower that resents overwatering.

✂️Pruning

Prune just after spring bloom since flowers form on old wood; remove seed pods and shape as a tree or shrub.

🌱Fertilizing

Light feeding only; tolerates poor soils as a nitrogen-fixing legume.

🛡️Pests

Watch for genista (sophora) caterpillars chewing new growth; hand-pick or treat with Bt.

☀️Seasonal Notes

Intensely grape-scented purple flowers in early spring; glossy evergreen foliage with toxic red seeds.

🪨Soil

Sharply draining rocky, limestone, or decomposed-granite soil; thrives in alkaline caliche pH 7.5–8.5 and fails in soggy ground

💧Drainage

Needs sharp, fast-draining soil.

🌱Nutrient Needs

Low feeder.

🌰Propagation

Grown from scarified seed (hard coat); slow to establish and resents root disturbance

📐Spacing

6–8 ft

🌳Roots & Placement

Deep, slow, non-invasive roots are foundation-safe; site the toxic red seeds away from play areas

•Slow-growing to about 8 ft; use as an evergreen screen or specimen near entries and patios to enjoy the grape-soda fragrance.
•Low litter and thornless, safe near pools and seating.
•The hard red seeds are toxic, so site away from areas where pets or children play.
•Tolerates reflected heat and west exposure; requires excellent drainage.