AGARITA

Sun or shade. Evergreen, with blue or green leaves bearing sharp points. Agarita’s holly-like leaves are a signature of south-central Texas: prickly and rugged. Stiff stems form a mounding shrub up to 5′ in height. Agarita grows in thickets, canyons and woodlands. Though it’s frequently clear-cut during residential construction, it has been re-planted and showcased in watersaver landscapes, paired with yucca and mountain laurel to lend instant Hill Country flavor. Yellow flowers appear briefly in early spring, followed by sweet-sour reddish berries. Growing throughout the Southwest, agarita was considered to possess antiseptic qualities by Native Americans. Root shavings yielded yellow dye for animal hides; later, the berries were used for jelly and wine. Though it can be hard to locate at big box stores, agarita can generally be obtained from nurseries specializing in native plants.

More