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Native Plant Society of Texas

Mexican Buckeye

Ungnadia speciosa

Other common name(s):

Monilla

Family:

Sapindaceae (Soapberry 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.

Central Great Plains, Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Southern Texas Plains, Texas Blackland Prairies
Limestone Plains
Chihuahuan Basins and Playas, Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands, Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands, Low Mountains and Bajadas, Stockton Plateau
Carbonate Cross Timbers, Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain, Western Cross Timbers
San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland, Llano Uplift, Semiarid Edwards Plateau
Floodplains and Low Terraces4, Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies
Northern Nueces Alluvial Plains, Semiarid Edwards Bajada
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Tree

Height

8
to
20
ft.

Spread

12
to
20
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Caliche, Clay, Dry, Limestone, Loam, Rocky, Sand, Well Drained

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Pink

Bloom Season

Spring

Seasonal Interest

Fall Color, Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Wildlife Benefit

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Moths, Small Mammals

Maintenance

Works well as a small specimen, tall background, or understory tree. Fast growth rate and drought resistant. Needs 1/2 day sun, best to provide late afternoon shade. Can be pruned for single trunk if desired. Avoid pruning when blooms form at stem axils. Varies in height according to conditions: in Houston it is more tree-like with large pink flowers; in the Guadalupe Mountains it is a four foot tall shrub with smaller flowers. Can be used near overhead utilities. Showy flowers appear in the spring. Leaves provide bright yellow color in the fall. WARNING: seeds are poisonous to humans. Native habitat: common in rocky areas, canyons, slopes and ridges.

Description

Blooms March-June. A multi-trunked understory tree or shrub, with a spreading crown. The bark is light gray, to brown, smooth on young branches, becoming fissured with age. Leaves are compound, with 2 to 6 paired leaflets, and a terminal one. Flowers appear lopsided, with four petals on top and a fifth that hangs below the long, drooping stamens. The fruit is a distinctive reddish brown, 3 lobed capsule, that contains round, hard, black seeds. Larval host: Henry’s Elfin Butterfly. Replaces non-natives: Vitex, Chastetree, Texas Lilac.

References

1) Miller, George O., Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas 2nd Ed., 2013, pg 48. 2) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg. 304. 3) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=UNSP. 4) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=22799&locationType=County&mapType=Normal, 5) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=28710#null, 6) Native and Adapted Landscape Plants, City of Austin and Texas A&M, 2014., 7) https://aggie-hort.tamu.edu/ornamentals/nativeshrubs/ungnadiaspecio.htm, 8) https://tpwmagazine.com/archive/2016/oct/scout3_florafact_buckeye/

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment Best sown fresh. Untreated seed will germinate in three weeks. Germination is best in warm soil. Field plant or use deep containers to accommodate a long initial root. Do not allow the soil to dry out. Gather seed in August through October when capsules turn dark reddish brown and begin to open. Seeds should be shiny black and hard. Remove seeds from pods and air dry a few days before storing in bags or ventilated containers at room temperature. For longer storage, place paper bags in the refrigerator. They do not store well for long periods of time. 1) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=UNSP 2) https://gardenoracle.com/images/ungnadia-speciosa.html
Stem Cutting Dip the cut end of the stem in a rooting hormone powder to encourage root growth. Tap off any excess powder to prevent over-application. Fill a pot with well-draining potting mix. Insert the cut end of the stem into the soil, making sure at least two leaf nodes are buried for potential root growth. Water the soil gently to settle it around the cutting. Place the pot in a warm location with indirect sunlight. Mexican buckeye cuttings benefit from high humidity, so consider placing a clear plastic bag over the pot to create a mini-greenhouse effect. Make sure the bag does not touch the leaves. Check the cutting regularly to ensure the soil remains moist but not waterlogged. Roots typically form within 4-8 weeks. After roots have established, gradually acclimatize the cutting to less humid conditions by removing the plastic bag for extended periods. Gather a pair of clean, sharp pruning shears. Select a healthy, non-flowering stem from mexican buckeye ensuring it is at least 6 inches long and has multiple leaves. Cut the stem at a 45-degree angle just below a leaf node. https://www.picturethisai.com/care/propagate/Ungnadia_speciosa.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