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Catclaw Acacia

Senegalia roemeriana

Other common name(s):

Roemer Acacia, Roemer's Acacia, Roundflower Catclaw, Round-flowered Catclaw, Catclaw

Family:

Fabaceae (Pea Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Central Great Plains, Chihuahuan Deserts, Edwards Plateau, Southern Texas Plains
Limestone Plains
Chihuahuan Basins and Playas, Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands, Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands, Low Mountains and Bajadas, Stockton Plateau
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland, Llano Uplift, Semiarid Edwards Plateau
Northern Nueces Alluvial Plains, Semiarid Edwards Bajada, Texas-Tamaulipan Thornscrub

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Shrub

Height

15
to
20
ft.

Spread

10
to
15
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Clay, Gravelly, Rocky, Limestone

Light Requirement

Sun

Water Requirement

Very Low, Low

Native Habitat

Grassland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White, Green

Bloom Season

Spring

Seasonal Interest

Seeds, Nectar

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds, Bees

Maintenance

Drought tolerant shrub that provides an attractive accent despite thorny branches. Good honey plant. Low water, full sun, well drained soil, hardy to 15°. Prune for shape and size.

Comments

Blooms April-August. Fast growing prickly shrub or small tree. Leaves divided into numerous leaflets 1/2″ long or less. Fruit a brown to reddish. Flat, narrow curved pod up to 4” long. Twigs are armed with short, curved prickles (hence the common name catclaw).
Previous Scientific Name(s): Synonym/s: Acacia malacophylla, Acacia roemeriana

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SERO. 3) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=11664&locationType=County&mapType=Normal, 4) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=819959#null, 5) http://museum2.utep.edu/chih/gardens/plants/RtoS/senegaliaroemeriana.htm

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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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