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Native Plant Society of Texas

Gregg Catclaw Acacia

Senegalia greggii

Other common name(s):

Gregg Acacia, Gregg's Acacia, Gregg's Catclaw Acacia, Gregg Catclaw, Gregg's Catclaw, Texas Catclaw Acacia, Texas Catclaw, Long-flowered Catclaw Acacia, Longflower Catclaw Acacia, Long-flowered Catclaw, Longflower Catclaw, Catclaw Acacia, Catclaw, Devil's Claw, Uña De Gato

Family:

Fabaceae (Pea 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
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
Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies
Northern Nueces Alluvial Plains, Rio Grande Floodplain and Terraces, Semiarid Edwards Bajada, Texas-Tamaulipan Thornscrub

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Tree

Height

15
to
20
ft.

Spread

5
to
6
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Rocky, Caliche, Well Drained, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Grassland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White, Yellow

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Fruit, Nectar

Wildlife Benefit

Birds, Nectar Insects, Bees

Maintenance

Moderate growth rate. Can grow as a small tree or tall shrub depending on the region. Works well in landscapes as a hedge. Don’t provide rich mulch to avoid root rot. Native habitat: chaparral and brush country, washes, stream banks, brushlands. Plant away from high traffic areas due to thorns. Does not transplant well. WARNING: twigs and foliage are poisonous to animals and humans. Propagation: seed.

Comments

Blooms April-October. Stems covered with curved spines. Leaves divided into tiny leaflets. Tiny flowers are produced in dense elongated clusters. The fruit is a pod with round segments irregularly constricted.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Acacia greggii, Acacia greggii var. arizonica, Acacia greggii var. greggii, Senegalia wrightii

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment Sow the seed in Spring in a greenhouse. As soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and grow them on in a sunny position in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts, and consider giving them some protection from the cold for their first winter outdoors. Late summer to early fall when seeds are firm, filled out, and dark brown 1) https://temperate.theferns.info/plant/Senegalia+greggii#:~:text=Sow%20the%20seed%20in%20Spring%20in%20a,the%20cold%20for%20their%20first%20winter%20outdoors. 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SEGR4
Seed Scarification Seeds are scarified by clipping prior to 4 to 5 hour water soak. Germinants are sown in open nursery flats using a growing medium of 2 parts sand, 1 part mulch and 2 parts perlite. Seedlings are ready for transplanting into larger containers at 8 to 12 weeks. Irrigation frequency and duration is gradually reduced for 4 to 8 weeks prior to out-planting. Seeds are hand collected in when pods have matured and begin to split open. Seeds and pods are allowed to dry for 4 to 6 weeks in paper bags in a warm, dry room. After seeds have been cleaned, they are stored under refrigeration in air tight containers at 7C. https://npn.rngr.net/renderNPNProtocolDetails?selectedProtocolIds=fabaceae-acacia-2543

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