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Native Plant Society of Texas

Beebrush

Aloysia gratissima

Other common name(s):

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

Family:

Verbenaceae (Verbena Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Chihuahuan Deserts, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Southern Texas Plains, Texas Blackland Prairies
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
Coastal Sand Plain, Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain, Lower Rio Grande Valley
Northern Nueces Alluvial Plains, Rio Grande Floodplain and Terraces, Semiarid Edwards Bajada, Texas-Tamaulipan Thornscrub
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Shrub

Height

6
to
12
ft.

Spread

6
to
8
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Clay, Limestone, Loam, Moist, Rocky, Sand

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low, Medium

Native Habitat

Desert, Grassland, Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Flowers, Forage, Fruit, Nectar, Seeds

Wildlife Benefit

Bees, Birds, Browsers, Butterflies, Nectar Insects

Maintenance

Drought tolerant. Moderate to slow growth rate. Does well in a variety of soils. Blooms during warm months after rains. Can be pruned into a hedge or small tree. May form a thicket of stems from the base. Will produce more flowers in full sun and after rains. WARNING: poisonous to animals. Native habitat: rocky outcrops; desert grasslands, bluffs, open woods

Description

Blooms March-November. A slender, erect shrub with squarish stems, light gray bark, and branches sometimes bearing sharp tips. Small, vanilla scented, leaves are usually in clusters along the stems. Flowers are small, white, and vanilla scented, growing on spikes extending above the leaves. The fruit is a dry capsule that splits into compartments, with seeds in each called a schizocarp.

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, 7) https://www.borderlandsplants.org/product-page/whitebrush-aloysia-gratissima#:~:text=Aloysia%20gratissima%2C%20or%20Whitebrush%2C%20is,No%20shipping. 8) https://gardenoracle.com/images/aloysia-gratissima.html, 9) https://www.plantdelights.com/products/aloysia-gratissima-punky-brewster#:~:text=In%20our%20trials%2C%20we%20have,Natural%20Impact:

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment Sow in pots or seed flats filled with well-drained soil mix, cover lightly, and keep the medium just moist until germination. Seedlings can be pricked out into individual pots and grown on until large enough to survive outdoors. Collect seeds in late summer when beginning to dry. Fruit may be slightly crushed and seeds removed by hand. Air-dry before storing in a cool, dry place. 1) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ALGR2 2) https://www.gardenia.net/plant/aloysia-gratissima-whitebrush-grow-care-guide 3) https://earthone.io/plant/aloysia%20gratissima?srsltid=AfmBOopLUHvZyAjE2xc8nfPUmeGopWid4URc0jye6m7KZfFTVxgr8Ztb
Stem Cutting Dip the cuttings in rooting hormone. Plant the prepared cutting in a pot filled with a well-draining soil mix, such as a combination of peat moss and perlite. Insert the cutting deep enough so it can stand upright, with at least one or two nodes buried in the soil. Place the pot in a warm, bright location but out of direct sunlight. Cover the pot with a plastic bag or place it under a humidity dome to maintain high humidity and prevent the cutting from drying out. Water sparingly, just enough to keep the soil slightly moist. Choose a healthy, non-flowering stem from a mature whitebrush plant. The cutting should be 4-6 inches long and have several sets of leaves. Use a sharp, sterilized knife or pruning shears to make a clean cut just below a leaf node. Remove the lower leaves, leaving two to three sets at the top. 1) https://earthone.io/plant/aloysia%20gratissima?srsltid=AfmBOopLUHvZyAjE2xc8nfPUmeGopWid4URc0jye6m7KZfFTVxgr8Ztb 2) https://www.picturethisai.com/care/propagate/Aloysia_gratissima.html

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason