Dermatophyllum secundiflora

A jewel of the limestone hills—evergreen, intoxicatingly fragrant, and deeply rooted in the spirit of the Southwest.

Dermatophyllum secundiflora (formerly Sophora secundiflora), known as Texas Mountain Laurel, is a small evergreen tree or large shrub that stands as one of the most elegant and enduring natives of the American Southwest. Though its name may call to mind the Eastern Kalmia latifolia, it shares no kinship with that mountain plant. Instead, this member of the legume family (Fabaceae) is a creature of sun-scorched slopes, alkaline soils, and enduring grace.

In early spring, Texas Mountain Laurel unfurls pendant clusters of rich purple blossoms, each flower shaped like a sweet pea and intensely fragrant, often likened to grape soda or candy-sweet perfume. These blooms hang in dense, showy racemes against a backdrop of glossy, dark green leaflets, catching both the light and the imagination. The scent, drifting on warm breezes, is unmistakable and unforgettable—a hallmark of Texas springtime.

By summer, leathery seed pods develop, each containing brilliant scarlet-red seeds, hard and highly ornamental—but also toxic if ingested, a fact well known to those who grew up roaming the Hill Country. The pods rattle like beads in the wind, adding a subtle rhythm to the tree’s seasonal presence.

Slow-growing but long-lived, Texas Mountain Laurel thrives in full sun and well-drained, alkaline to neutral soils, making it ideal for rock gardens, dry borders, xeric landscapes, and courtyard specimen plantings. Though best known in Texas and the Southwest, it can be grown successfully in the warmer parts of the Southeast, provided it is given a sunny, sheltered site with excellent drainage.

Native Range: Texas, New Mexico, Northern Mexico
Foliage: Evergreen; glossy, leathery, pinnate leaves
Bloom Time: Early to mid-spring
Flower Color: Deep purple-violet with strong, sweet fragrance
Fruit: Woody pods with bright red seeds (poisonous if ingested)
Notable Traits: Drought-tolerant, fragrant blooms, ornamental seeds, rarely available outside native range
Garden Uses: Specimen tree, xeriscape, Mediterranean-style garden, dry garden accent