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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

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason