Why you need an Anacua

Anacua or the Sandpaper Tree (Ehretia anacua) is a white flowering, fragrant, sub-tropical, native tree that provides nectar for bees, butterflies, and other insects. The flowers appear in a cluster and when it is in full bloom, the tree appears to be covered in snow. This stunning show lasts about two weeks during March.

Following the flowers, clusters of two-seeded fruit appear. The yellow fruits turn orange red as they mature, offering pure eye candy to a host of fruit loving birds, including parrots, parakeets, mockingbirds and green jays. The dark green leaves are rough; thus, the name sandpaper tree. The fruit is edible and can be used in jelly, however, small mammals and birds are usually first to arrive at the Anacua dinner plate.

The trees easily reach 40 to 50 feet in height and span 20 to 30 feet in width with a tight canopy. It is an excellent shade tree and provides shelter and nesting for numerous birds.

Anacua is native to southern Texas and northeastern Mexico. It requires regular irrigation the first year, but afterwards it becomes drought tolerant and does not need irrigation except during prolonged dry periods. Anacua needs well drained soils, and it tolerates our high alkaline soils well. In very dry areas, Anacua is a dense shrub rather than a tree.

Traditionally, the wood of Anacua was used to make handles for tools and the trees have been used as living fences. The dense foliage works well to block noise in urban or industrial settings. In its early years, it may develop multiple trunks which eventually merge as the tree matures. Avoid planting Anacua where falling fruit can present a hazard and avoid placing it under electrical lines where it will eventually need to be removed.

The fragrance, the flower show, the fruit, the shade, its ability to reduce noise, and near zero maintenance add up to a special gift deserving of the right spot in the garden where you can unwind and enjoy watching the butterflies and birds.

Anacua seedlings will be for sale Saturday at the Farmers Market in Firemen’s Park, 201 N. 1st St. in McAllen, under the covered area in the park, next to Town Lake. Market hours are 9 to noon, every Saturday, year-round. And, this Saturday, the market is hosting Lemonade Day – McAllen where youth groups are learning entrepreneurship and selling their lemonade. Come support small business and these youth groups.

Barbara Storz is a local horticulturist writing about plants that grow well under South Texas conditions. You can find her at the Farmers Market at Firemen’s Park every Saturday.

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