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Native Plant Society of Texas

Beebrush

Aloysia gratissima

Whitebrush, Bee-brush, White-brush, Common Bee-brush, Privet Lippia

Courtesy: Loughmiller, Campbell and Lynn, https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=7492
Courtesy: Loughmiller, Campbell and Lynn, https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=7492
Courtesy; Wasowski, Sally and Andy, https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=21219
Courtesy; Wasowski, Sally and Andy, https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=21219
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Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map (hover for ecoregion names)

Native Habitat: Grassland
Chihuahuan Deserts, Edwards Plateau, Southern Texas Plains

Maintenance

All seasons: Protect from browsers. May be pruned into a hedge or small tree. May form a thicket of stems from the base. Blooms best in full sun. Early spring: May be cut back to promote flowering and bushier growth.

Comments

A fragrant, slender, erect shrub with squarish stems, light gray bark, and branches sometimes bearing sharp tips. Small leaves are usually in clusters along the stems. Flowers are small, white, and vanilla scented growing on spikes extending above the leaves. Blooms during warm months after rains. As the name beebush suggests, this is a honey plant. It also provides browse for wildlife.

Growth Form

Shrub

Height

6 to
12 ft

Spread

6 to
8 ft

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Medium

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Fruit, Forage, Nectar, Flowers

Wildlife Benefit

Browsers, Butterflies, Birds, Bees

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References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ALGR2. 3) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Aloysia+gratissima&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 4) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=23799&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 5) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg. 229. 6) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=32132#null

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State Office Phone: 830.997.9272

State Office Address
Native Plant Society of Texas
PO Box 3017
Fredericksburg, TX 78624

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