Ebenopsis ebano aka Texas Ebony

Ebenopsis ebano, or Texas ebony, belongs to the pea family. Its native range runs from southeast Texas into Mexico. It grows in desert and dry shrubland. This evergreen tree may lose some leaves in colder areas. It can also form a large shrub with several stems. Its crown spreads out and gives moderate shade.

Garden trees reach 15–30 feet [4.6–9.1 metres] tall. Their spread ranges from 15–30 feet [4.6–9.1 metres]. Some wild trees reach 49 feet [15 metres] farther south. Sources describe its growth as slow to moderate. The short trunk has smooth bark when young. With age, the gray-brown to reddish bark becomes scaly. Branches may droop, and gray twigs carry paired spines. The alternate leaves are bipinnate, with small, leathery, oval leaflets. Their upper sides look dark green, with paler undersides. The foliage gives little fall color.

Small, fragrant flowers form soft-looking spikes in pale yellow or white. Virginia Tech places flowering in late spring and early summer. Florida's account gives June through August as the bloom period. Bees visit the flowers. Thick, woody pods follow and turn dark brown to black. Accounts give pod lengths from three to eight inches. The pods contain round, black seeds and ripen in fall. They split open but can remain on branches for months.

Give this tree full sun and soil that drains well. It accepts clay, sand, and loam, including acid soils. It prefers alkaline ground and tolerates wind and compacted soil. Established trees need little water and withstand drought well. Too much watering can cause problems. Florida lists USDA zones 9b–11 for garden use. Useful Tropical Plants reports cold tolerance down to about −12°C. Pruning helps build a sound branch structure. Sources report no major pest or disease concerns. Landscape uses include shade, specimen planting, road medians, and containers.

People cook the green seeds and roast the ripe seeds. They also cook young pods for food. Roasted seeds and pod shells have served as coffee substitutes. Large seed meals may cause urinary discharge in people unused to them. The seeds also have a reported laxative use. Useful Tropical Plants lists no other known hazards. The hard, durable wood serves for cabinets and fence posts. Growers raise new plants from seed. They scarify the seed coat, then soak seeds before sowing.