Join / Renew / Gift Donate Shop Member Portal Language

Search
npsot_bluebonnet_full_color

Native Plant Society of Texas

Sandpaper Tree

Ehretia anacua

Other common name(s):

Anacua, Sugarberry Anacua, Anaqua, Anacahuita, Knockaway, Knackaway, Manzanita, Manzanillo, Tlalahuacate

Family:

Boraginaceae (Borage 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, Texas Blackland Prairies
Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands
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, Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies
Northern Nueces Alluvial Plains, Rio Grande Floodplain and Terraces, Texas-Tamaulipan Thornscrub
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Southern Blackland Prairie

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Tree

Height

20
to
50
ft.

Spread

15
to
30
ft.

Leaf Retention

Semi Evergreen

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Clay, Dry, Loam, Sand, Well Drained

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Shrubland, Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer

Seasonal Interest

Fruit, Larval Host, Nectar, Nesting Material, Pollen

Wildlife Benefit

Bees, Birds, Beetles, Nectar Insects, Small Mammals

Maintenance

Fast growth rate. On dry hillsides will grow as a shrub, but reaches tree size in moister regions. Needs lots of water to get established, but then becomes quite drought-tolerant. In full bloom, it will appear like it is covered in snow. Mainly native to South Texas but can be found as far north as Austin. If planted as far north as Dallas it will freeze back in cold winters, and rarely develop flowers. Native habitat: thickets, open woodlands, Chaparral and brush country, Fence rows.

Description

Blooms spring through summer. The flowering season is longer in southern range. A single or multi-trunked tree with oval leaves that feel rough like sandpaper. Older trees have flaking reddish bark. Fragrant, white flowers, with 5 lobes are arranged in clusters. The fruit is a yellow to red, two-seeded berry. Larval host: Anacua Tortoise Beetle.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Ehretia elliptica

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) Miller, George O., Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas 2nd Ed., 2013, pg 48. 3) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg. 333. 4) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=EHAN. 5) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=5161&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 6) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=31901#null., 7) Native and Adapted Landscape Plants, City of Austin and Texas A&M, 2014, 8) https://aggie-hort.tamu.edu/ornamentals/natives/EHRETIAANACUA.HTM, 9) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ehretia_anacua

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed Stratification Anaqua seeds benefit from a period of cold stratification. Place the seeds in a moist paper towel within a sealed plastic bag and store them in your refrigerator for 6-8 weeks. Plant the stratified seeds in well-draining soil, about ½ inch deep. Keep the soil consistently moist, and within a few weeks, you should see your Anaqua seedlings emerge. In late summer, Anaqua trees bear small, orange-brown fruits. Collect fully ripe fruits that easily detach from the branch. Gently crush the fruits and rinse away the pulp to reveal the small, brown seeds within. 1) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=EHAN 2) https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-ehretia-anacua/
Stem Cutting Dip the cut end of the cutting in rooting hormone to encourage root development. Insert the cutting into a well-draining potting mix. Cover the pot with a clear plastic bag to create a humid environment. Keep the soil consistently moist and be patient; it can take several weeks for roots to establish. Take cuttings in late spring or early summer from new growth. Look for healthy, semi-hardwood cuttings, about 6-8 inches long. Remove the leaves from the lower half of the cutting. https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-ehretia-anacua/

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