Plant · P-1018

Mexican Buckeye

Ungnadia speciosa

Mexican Buckeye is a many-trunked shrub or small tree of rocky canyons, arroyos and limestone slopes, producing clusters of fragrant, rose-to-pink flowers on bare branches in early spring before or as the leaves emerge. Its woody, three-lobed seed capsules split open to reveal shiny dark brown to black seeds, which along with the foliage are poisonous if eaten. It tolerates thin, rocky, well-drained soil and long dry spells, coppicing readily if cut back, and grows in full sun to partial shade.