Grow Mexican buckeye in full sun to part shade, in soil that drains, and water less once the plant is established. Mexican buckeye is Ungnadia speciosa, also sold as monilla.
Give it full sun to part shade and soil that drains
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Light | Full sun to part shade | Do not tuck it into deep shade under a dense canopy |
| Soil | Well-drained ground, including rocky, limestone, or caliche soils | Do not sit the roots in a wet low spot or heavy clay that holds a puddle |
| Water | Low once the plant is established; soak only in a long dry spell | Do not keep the bed wet after the first seasons |
| Size | About 10 to 30 feet tall and 12 to 20 feet wide | Do not park it against a walk or under low wires if you want a small tree |
Mexican buckeye is a deciduous small tree or multi-stem shrub with pinnate leaves and pink spring flowers. Give it sun to part shade and soil that drains, including limestone and rocky ground. [1] The same dry, well-drained site works in full sun or light shade, and an established plant takes heat and drought. [2] In the wild it sits on calcareous slopes, canyon rims, and other ground that sheds water. [3] A nursery tree still needs regular water after you set it — that job is on Planting Mexican Buckeye.
How do you grow Mexican buckeye?
Give it full sun to part shade and soil that drains. Water less once it is established, and keep it out of soggy clay.
How big does a Mexican buckeye get?
A landscape plant is about 10 to 30 feet tall and 12 to 20 feet wide. Leave that room so it can keep a rounded crown.
Water little once it is established, and skip soggy ground
Once the roots have taken, water deeply only when a long dry spell has dried the soil, then let the extra water drain away. An established plant often gets by on rainfall, or a soak once or twice a month in a rainless stretch. Soggy clay around the roots is the main cause of rot. Raise the bed or pick a slope that sheds water. Do not water on a calendar if rain already soaked the root zone. Dry ground is the native setting, not a constantly wet border.
How often do I water Mexican buckeye?
After the first seasons, soak only in a long dry spell. Do not leave a puddle on clay.
Not a true buckeye — and not Texas buckeye or redbud
Mexican buckeye is Ungnadia, a soapberry relative with odd-pinnate leaves: leaflets in pairs along a stalk plus a leaflet at the tip, and clusters of pink flowers. A true buckeye is Aesculus: palmate leaflets that spread from one point like fingers, and flowers that run yellow, white, or red, not this pink spray. [4] If the tag says buckeye and the leaves are a palmate hand, read How to Grow Buckeye.
Texas buckeye on a nursery tag is often Ohio buckeye, Aesculus glabra: palmate leaflets and pale yellow flowers. This plant is sometimes called Texas buckeye too, so look at the leaves before you copy buckeye care. Red buckeye is Aesculus pavia, with red flowers and the same palmate leaf.
From a distance the pink bloom can look like a redbud. Redbud is Cercis: simple heart-shaped leaves, not pinnate leaflets. If the tag says redbud, read How to Grow Redbud.
How do I tell Mexican buckeye from a true buckeye?
Look for pinnate leaflets along a stalk and pink flowers. True buckeyes have palmate leaves like a hand, and different flower colors.
If the leaves yellow in summer while the soil is still wet, check that the ground drains and that you have not kept the bed soaked.
FAQ
Is there more than one kind of Mexican buckeye?
This shop holds one species, Ungnadia speciosa. Old Aesculus speciosa labels are still this plant and want the same sun and drained ground.
Can I grow Mexican buckeye in a pot?
A nursery pot is how a young plant is sold, not a houseplant. Plant it in the ground. A 20-foot shrub will not stay in a patio pot.
Will deer eat Mexican buckeye?
This shop does not list it as deer-proof. Protect a young plant with a cage if browse pressure is high in your yard.
Are Mexican buckeye seeds poisonous?
Yes. The shiny dark seeds and the leaves contain saponin. Do not eat them, and keep children and pets from chewing any part of the plant.
What pests hit Mexican buckeye?
It is usually a clean landscape plant on drained ground. Watch for rot if the soil stays wet. Do not spray on a calendar.
Does Mexican buckeye need winter protection?
An established plant stays in the ground. It drops its leaves and rests. Do not lift it like a tender pot plant.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center -
https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=unsp - [2] Garden Oracle -
https://gardenoracle.com/images/ungnadia-speciosa.html - [3] U.S. Forest Service -
https://research.fs.usda.gov/feis/species-reviews/ungspe - [4] Hill Country Naturalist -
https://www.hillcountrynaturalist.org/pdf/170422%20Buckeyes.%20An%20Intgeresting%20Group%20of%20Plants.pdf
This note is part of Ungnadia Guides.
More first-season notes by plant are gathered in How to Grow Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors