Texas Kidneywood

Texas Kidneywood, Eysenhardtia texana

Texas kidneywood is a native, deciduous, open shrub that reaches heights up to 3 m (10 ft). From April to October it blooms intermittently with spike white fragrant flowers. As a member of the legume family, Texas kidneywood has a pod-like fruit and compound leaves, but does not have thorns. The foliage in particular gives off a very pungent citrus smell. Although drought tolerant, extreme drought can cause defoliation. Texas kidneywood has been called an "ice cream" plant for deer due to it being highly palatable browse and highly nutritious. In addition to deer, various bees are known to be attracted to the flowers and the Dogface butterfly uses kidneywood as a host plant. Although kidneywood was once used in remedies for urological ailments, it is now mainly used in restoration projects, for nectar, and for dyes.