When I see Texas Huisache trees beginning to bloom, I know Spring is right around the corner. Not only is the golden pom-pom pleasing to the eye, the aroma is sweet, sweet, sweet. This small-leafed tree is a member of the mimosa family. It's considered a large shrub or medium tree but my experience leads me to give it lots of room to spread. A word of warning - this is a thorned tree and around my yard the saw bugs LOVE it - thus I feel like I am forever dragging those thorny branches to the brush pile. Huisache is very drought tolerant making it beloved addition to an arid spot in my yard.
Up close, I think the buds are every bit as pretty as the blooms. Huisache is a Valley native. If you observe a field that has been left fallow for a few years, it seems to be one of the first trees to sprout.
It is an important nesting site for white-wing - guess there's a reason for those thorns. We almost always have a nest in one of our Huisache trees. The day I took these pictures there was a Goldenfinch (American or Lesser, who knows) flitting from blossom to blossom. We've put out two thistle feeders for them - and have not seen a single one feeding there. Guess they're well fed by nature. According to the Native Plant Project, bees are attracted to the pollen of the Huisache tree, not the nectar. I wonder if it's the same for that Goldenfinch.
6 comments:
Those are some beautiful blooms. I'll have to keep my eye out for the blooms. I must not have been paying attention to my surroundings.
Nice to know that there is a spring coming, although we probably have to wait for it a few more weeks (or even months) in Sweden... Nice photos!
I am not familiar with this tree, but you are right, the buds and flowers are lovely. It is so nice to see those first blooms after winter.
Jan
Always Growing
What a pretty tree, and I'm looking for fragrance, which I have only when the dryer is on :) Can those guys tolerate heavy rains? (Like we get in Florida in the summer?) What do they look like when they're not blooming?
VANILLALOTUS - Until I began photographing blooms up close, I missed most of their beauty and intricacy. Some of the tiny, tiny flowers have tons of detail.
ANDRE - Yes, but in July and August when we are melting, you will be enjoying your moderate summer.
JAN - I do think we appreciate the first blooms of spring most of all!
PENNY - a huisache has tons of frangrance - but is pretty plain when not in bloom AND it doesn't like wet feet.
I have a wonderful Huisache tree that is right outside my fenced backyard. I love the little yellow pom-poms too!!! You really captured its' beauty in your photographs.
~Michelle
Getting Dirty in Texas
Post a Comment