Sandpaper Tree

Year-round

Anacua is a tree with white, fragrant spring flowers, orange berries that birds eat, and rough, flaking bark. It is drought tolerant once established and needs little upkeep.

• Plant in sun to part shade. It grows in well drained soil, including sandy, loamy, or clay, and does best in alkaline ground.
• Water regularly while it is getting established, then it needs little extra water.
• It can reach 20 to 50 feet and often grows several trunks, so give it room away from the house and power lines.
• It is hardy in dry areas but can freeze back in cold winters north of central Texas, so expect some damage in a hard North Texas winter.
• The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center notes honeybees visit the blossoms and birds and other animals eat the fruit.

Pruning lower limbs lightly keeps the tree clear of sidewalks and looking tended in a front yard.

Fall

Fall is a good time to plant so roots settle in before winter.

• Plant in early fall so roots get a few months of growth before freezes.
• Water new plantings weekly until the first hard freeze.
• Skip fertilizer, since it does not need it.

Winter

Winter is the time to watch for cold damage.

• It may drop leaves in winter and can freeze back in a hard freeze, then regrow in spring.
• Wait until spring to cut frost-damaged stems so you can see what is dead.
• Mulch around young trees, keeping mulch off the trunk, to protect roots from freezes.

Spring

Spring is bloom time, with white flowers from about February through April.

• Flowers draw honeybees, so avoid heavy pruning while it is in bloom.
• Water new trees weekly if spring rain is light.
• Check for freeze damage on branch tips and prune dead wood once new leaves show.

Summer

Summer is easy once the tree is established, and berries ripen in late spring to early summer.

• Established trees handle North Texas heat on rainfall alone most years.
• Give young trees a deep soak every week or two during dry stretches.
• Ripe orange berries drop and attract birds, so plan the spot away from patios and cars.

Year-round

Anacua is a tree with white, fragrant spring flowers, orange berries that birds eat, and rough, flaking bark. It is drought tolerant once established and needs little upkeep.

• Plant in sun to part shade. It grows in well drained soil, including sandy, loamy, or clay, and does best in alkaline ground.
• Water regularly while it is getting established, then it needs little extra water.
• It can reach 20 to 50 feet and often grows several trunks, so give it room away from the house and power lines.
• It is hardy in dry areas but can freeze back in cold winters north of central Texas, so expect some damage in a hard North Texas winter.
• The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center notes honeybees visit the blossoms and birds and other animals eat the fruit.

Pruning lower limbs lightly keeps the tree clear of sidewalks and looking tended in a front yard.

Fall

Fall is a good time to plant so roots settle in before winter.

• Plant in early fall so roots get a few months of growth before freezes.
• Water new plantings weekly until the first hard freeze.
• Skip fertilizer, since it does not need it.

Winter

Winter is the time to watch for cold damage.

• It may drop leaves in winter and can freeze back in a hard freeze, then regrow in spring.
• Wait until spring to cut frost-damaged stems so you can see what is dead.
• Mulch around young trees, keeping mulch off the trunk, to protect roots from freezes.

Spring

Spring is bloom time, with white flowers from about February through April.

• Flowers draw honeybees, so avoid heavy pruning while it is in bloom.
• Water new trees weekly if spring rain is light.
• Check for freeze damage on branch tips and prune dead wood once new leaves show.

Summer

Summer is easy once the tree is established, and berries ripen in late spring to early summer.

• Established trees handle North Texas heat on rainfall alone most years.
• Give young trees a deep soak every week or two during dry stretches.
• Ripe orange berries drop and attract birds, so plan the spot away from patios and cars.