Blackbrush Acacia
Vachellia rigidula

SUN full to part sun, even reflected heat
WATER moderate to low
SOIL not picky, but well-drained
HARDINESS hardy to about 20°F
BASIN high zone
CONTAINER does moderately well in containers but will not attain full size
NUTRITION low
MAINTENANCE very little

ECOLOGY
Larval host for the Mimosa Yellow (Pyrisitia nise), Marine Blue (Leptotes marina), Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus ssp. gyas), and Reakirt's Blue (Echinargus isola) as well as several species of moths. Flowers are fragrant and visited by many insects.

ETHNOBOTANY
Like many acacias, all parts of this species has a long history of medicinal use and is used by many people as medicine.
This species is used in weight loss dietary supplements because of the presence of chemical compounds claimed to stimulate beta-receptors to increase lipolysis and metabolic rate and decrease appetite. In 2015, 52% of supplements labeled as containing Acacia rigidula were found to be adulterated with synthetic BMPEA, an amphetamine isomer. Consumers following recommended maximum daily servings would consume a maximum of 94 mg of BMPEA per day. In 2012, however, the FDA determined that BMPEA was not naturally present in Acacia rigidula leaves.
This species is also known as a large honey producer and early blooming plant for its native region.

NATURAL DISTRIBUTION
Found in prairies, plains, meadows, pastures, savannas, chaparral & brush country, and roadsides in Texas, south into Mexico to Tamaulipas. Blackbrush Acacia grows on limestone hillsides and canyons

TAXONOMY AND NAME
This plant is in the Fabaceae, the legume family. The genus Vachellia contains 32 species.
This plant was formerly known as Acacia rigidula.
The genus Vachellia commemorates Rev. John Harvey Vachell (1798-1839), chaplain to the British East India Company in Macao from 1825-1836 and a plant collector in China, while the species name “rigidula” is Latin derived, meaning rigid—a reference to the nature of the stems of this plant.