Condalia hookeri
Brasil
Southern Texas and northeastern Mexico
Overview
Condalia hookeri, known as brasil or bluewood condalia, is a rigid, thorny evergreen shrub or small tree of southern Texas and northeastern Mexico, reaching 6-15 feet (1.8-4.6 m) and occasionally taller. Its grey bark covers intricately branched, zigzag twigs that end in sharp spine-tips. Small bright green leaves are obovate, 0.3-0.8 inch (8-20 mm) long, and clustered on short lateral spurs. Minute greenish-yellow flowers without petals appear in the leaf axils from spring through fall, especially after rain. They are followed by rounded drupes about 0.25 inch (6 mm) wide that ripen from red to black and yield a sweet, blue-staining juice, the source of the bluewood name. C. hookeri grows in Tamaulipan thornscrub, brushland, and along fencerows on well-drained calcareous soils. It withstands heat and drought once established but is slow-growing and armed with rigid spines that make it hard to work around. The dense, thorny canopy gives nesting cover and the fruit feeds many birds and mammals.
Native Range
Native to southern Texas and northeastern Mexico, within the Tamaulipan thornscrub of the Rio Grande plains and adjacent Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas. It grows in brushland, thickets, and along watercourses on dry, often calcareous soils.Suggested Uses
Used as a thorny barrier or hedge, in wildlife and native plantings, and in xeriscapes across south Texas and similar dry regions. The dense spiny growth screens and deters passage, and the fruit draws birds and small mammals. It also serves as a tough, drought-hardy small tree for hot, low-water sites.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6' - 15'
Width/Spread6' - 12'
Bloom Information
Tiny greenish-yellow flowers open in the leaf axils from spring through fall, flushing most heavily after rainfall. Individual flowers are inconspicuous and lack petals. Fruiting follows within weeks, so flowers and ripening drupes often appear together across the warm months.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
bright greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight