Texas Mountain laurel

Mescal bean or Texas mountain laurel is an evergreen, The dense, dark green and glossy compound leaves are composed of 7-9 shiny, leathery leaflets that are rounded on the ends.

The bluish lavender flowers, in 3-7 in. drooping clusters, are very showy and fragrant. The fruit is a semi-woody pod with bright red seeds.

  • Native to the RGV

  • Bushes can be shaped like a tree

  • 10-12 feet. — Seeds are very hard. Acorn style.. fully enveloped. 

  • They flower once a year.

  • They smell very nice. 

  • Looks a lot like a lavender.

  • Much more frost resistant than palm. 

What to expect from a Texas Mountain Laurel

Texas Mountain Laurels are usually a multi-trunked shrub or small tree ranging from just a few feet tall to more than 30 ft. in height, though its usual height at maturity is 10-15 ft. ‘

The leaflets are up to 2 inches or more long, tapering more gradually to the base than to the tip, and arranged along an axis terminated by a single leaflet.

The bright red seeds from this plant are poisonous so do not eat them. This is a very beautiful plant that can be cut into a beautiful hedge when properly maintained.