Family: Fabaceae

The shorter stature and fine foliage of Schott’s acacia distinguishes it from whitethorn and other similar, related species. This deciduous shrub only grows about 4 feet tall but spreads a bit wider (about 5 feet). In March through August fragrant, yellow puffball flowers occur and are followed by slim legume seed pods. Very rare in the trade.

Grow in full sun, and water moderately with good drainage, it is hardy to about 10°F.

Butterfly larval plant food for the Mexican yellow (Eurema mexicana), the mimosa yellow (Pyrisitia nise), and the Reakirt’s blue (Echinargus isola). Moth larval food plant for the black witch moth (Ascalapha odorata), Merry melipotis moth (Melipotis jucunda), Mesquite stinger flannel moth (Norape tenera), Navel orangeworm moth (Amyelois transitella).

Grows in gypseous clay and rocky limestone soils in the Trans Pecos, and into adjacent Mexico.

Formerly Acacia schottii. Acacia is from Greek akakie taken from ake or akis, -a sharp point, while schottii is named after Arthur Carl Victor Schott (1814-1875), one of the naturalists of the Mexican Boundary Survey. The genus “Vachellia” (Vachel'lia:) is named after the Rev. George Harvey Vachell (1798-1839); born in Littleport, Cambridgeshire, and graduated from Cambridge University in 1821.