Last updated on April 2nd, 2025 at 06:24 am
The Texas Mountain Laurel Tree (Sophora secundiflora) is also called the Mescal bean. A great flowering small to medium-sized evergreen tree. It will produce very fragrant purple hanging flowers in early spring, usually around late March to early April.
The Size of Texas Mountain Laurel Tree
Texas Mountain Laurels can grow to about 15 to 20 feet tall and spread roughly 15 feet wide. They thrive in full sun and are perfect for the Southwest’s climate. Once established—usually by their third year—they don’t need much water, making them a great low-maintenance choice. Their beautiful purple blooms add a bold pop of color to any yard.
The Texas Mountain Laurel can easily be trained into a small to medium-sized tree. Prune off the lower branches and suckers that will grow at the bottom of the tree (see the image below). The flower smells like a grape Kool-Aid!
Where to plant this tree?
Place it in full sun and water about every other day during the first 2-3 years after planting. Water about twice per month during the cold seasons. It tolerates poor soil but does better with well-composted soil.
The Texas Mountain Laurel Tree
The Texas Mountain Laurel as a bush
Here is the bush version of the above before trimming. The blooms have expired but they remain green throughout the year. Here is a page on some great Desert Evergreen Shrubs.
Problems with The Texas Mountain Laurel Tree?
I see this tree in many landscapes throughout Las Cruces, NM. It is a disease and insect-resistant tree. However, it will produce large seed pods that are toxic (see the image below). It is important to be careful with these seeds when handling them.
Worms will attack this tree and they love the flower and the foliage. The Genista moth larvae are its main problem, the sophora worm. The best spray to use is Bacillus Thuringiensis also called BT. It comes in liquid and or powder form. Ask for a product called Thuricide (which contains BT) at your local nursery, it will do the job. BT is a biological pesticide. Learn more about this at Wikipedia.
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Try picking these worms and their larvae one by one. Use a good pair of tweezers to do the job. You can also do your best to attract birds to your trees or garden. Most birds will eat worms and larvae. The Orioles and Warblers love them. A clever idea is to place a water fountain or large birdbath to attract these types of birds to your area.
The seed pods of the Texas Mountain Laurel
They are highly intoxicating and so is the foliage. Here is a great post about the seed pods from the Texas Hill Country Website.
The pods are encased in a hard shell and are hard to penetrate by animals.
The “Silver Peso” Texas Mountain Laurel
It grows about the same height and width as the dark green Texas Mountain Laurel but with a silver leaf. Is also called the Silver Sierra™ Mountain Laurel. Learn more about this tree over at MSWN.
Texas Mountain Laurels can grow to about 15 to 20 feet tall and spread roughly 15 feet wide. They thrive in full sun and are perfect for the Southwest’s climate. Once established—usually by their third year—they don’t need much water, making them a great low-maintenance choice. Their beautiful purple blooms add a bold pop of color to any yard.
Conclusion
The Texas Mountain Laurel brings a lot to the table. It’s drought-tolerant, low water, and perfect for those of us who want gorgeous greenery but don’t have tons of time to garden. If you’re rethinking your space, this tree could be the perfect fit for your Xeriscape or desert oasis. It is important to note that the seed pods and foliage are highly toxic to people, dogs, and cats.
Most locally owned Nurseries throughout the American Southwest will have this tree in stock.
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If you have any questions or enjoyed this post, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.
I am a transplanted Texan looking for a Texas Mountain Laurel to plant in my alabama yard. Who sells the plant I want to enjoy it and all I can find are seeds. If you don’t sell the plant do you know who might? It would give me such pleasure. Thanks Daisy
Hello, Daisy, you might want to visit Monrovia.com and see if it is available there. They will deliver to your local nursery in Alabama. If your nursery carries Monrovia plants you should be able to have it delivered there.