Ungnadia speciosa
Mexican Buckeye
Ungnadia speciosa, Mexican buckeye, is a small, multi-stemmed tree with dense branching that does well in dry soil with partial to full sun. Fragrant purple and pink flowers bloom in spring, fruit is ornamental in the summer and foliage becomes light yellow in fall.
Poisonous health hazard.
Fair potential utility as an urban tree based on evaluation of 22 trees, healthy crown, 86% survival, moderate growth rate. Herbivory on a few individuals. Very vigorous species. Many individuals have a tendency to be shrubby and have resisted training to one trunk. Some signs of water stress or sunburn on a few individuals. Leaves turn yellow in fall.
All seed from three mother plants were planted outside in October with no special treatment and with the same growing conditions. Germination rates varied from 36% to 100%, from each mother plant. Seedlings are moderately-paced growers.
