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Native Plant Society of Texas

Bluewood Condalia

Condalia hookeri

Other common name(s):

Lotebush, Brasil, Brasilwood, Bluewood, Logwood, Purple Haw, Capul Negro

Family:

Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn 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.

East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Southern Texas Plains
Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland, Llano Uplift
Coastal Sand Plain, Laguna Madre Barrier Island and Coastal Marshes, Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Mid-Coast Barrier Islands and Coastal Marshes, Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies
Northern Nueces Alluvial Plains, Rio Grande Floodplain and Terraces, Semiarid Edwards Bajada, Texas-Tamaulipan Thornscrub

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Shrub, Tree

Height

12
to
36
ft.

Spread

8
to
10
ft.

Leaf Retention

Semi Evergreen

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Caliche, Clay, Dry, Limestone, Loam, Sand

Light Requirement

Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Shrubland, Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Green

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer

Seasonal Interest

Flowers, Fruit, Larval Host, Nectar, Nesting Material

Wildlife Benefit

Birds, Butterflies, Caterpillars, Nectar Insects, Small Mammals

Maintenance

Slow growing, low maintenance. Drought tolerant. Grows in a variety of soils. With a little pruning it can form a distinctive small ornamental. Plant away from walkways due to thorny branches. Pruning should be focused on minimizing dead or damaged branches. Native habitat: dry, brushy pastures and woods.

Description

Blooms April-July. Blooms can last longer depending on growing conditions. Thorny, branched, thicket-forming shrub or small tree. Dark greyish-black bark and reddish twigs. Small oval leaves. Flowers are small, green and inconspicuous. The fruit is small, round, fleshy, green ripening to black in late summer or fall. Larval host: Snout and Tamaulipan Agapema butterflies.

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=COHO. 3) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=20996&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 4) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt. 5) Miller, George O., Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas 2nd Ed., 2013, pg 48. 6) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg. 285, 7) chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://docsonline.sanantonio.gov/FileUploads/DSD/Small%20Tree%20Species.pdf

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Semi-harwood Cutting Remove all leaves from the bottom two nodes and dip the cut ends into rooting hormone. Plant the cuttings in a well-draining rooting mix and maintain consistently moist soil. Take 4-6 inch cuttings from semi-hardwood stems in late summer or early fall. The ideal cutting should have at least three nodes (places where leaves or branches grow) and a healthy green tip. https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-condalia-hookeri/
Seed Scarification Scarify the seeds (lightly scratch the outer surface with a knife) to help with germination. Sow the seeds in a seed tray filled with well-draining soil, ensuring consistent moisture and warm temperatures. Provide a humid environment by covering your cuttings with a plastic dome or using a propagator. You can also mist the cuttings regularly. Avoid direct sunlight during the initial stages of propagation, especially for cuttings. A bright, indirect light environment is ideal. Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy. Avoid letting the soil dry out completely, as this can hinder rooting. Collect ripe seeds from mature plants and store them in a cool, dry place until the following spring. https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-condalia-hookeri/

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