# Anacua (*Ehretia anacua*) The Anacua tree is a lovely tree that can grow tall and wide. It has shiny green leaves and beautiful white flowers that attract butterflies and bees, making it a great friend to nature. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 6 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Anacua](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ehretia_anacua_flowers.jpg&width=800) Photo: Carlos Abrego, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ehretia_anacua_flowers.jpg) ## Appearance The Anacua is a medium-sized tree with a rugged, often multi-trunked form and rough, sandpaper-like dark green leaves. It produces clusters of small, white, five-petaled flowers, followed by abundant, tiny, translucent orange-yellow berries. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Boraginales - **Family:** Ehretiaceae - **Genus:** Ehretia ## Interesting facts - Its leaves feel like rough sandpaper, which is a super unique texture for a tree! - Many people call it the 'Knockaway tree' – a fun, bouncy nickname for this tough plant! - Pioneers used Anacua wood for fence posts because it's incredibly strong and rot-resistant. - The sweet little orange berries are edible and taste a bit like a date or a fig. ## Special abilities - **Drought Master:** Anacua has deep roots and tough leaves that help it survive long periods without much water in dry environments. - **Fruit Factory:** Anacua produces numerous small, sweet berries that provide a vital food source for many birds and small mammals. - **Tough Skin:** Anacua's very rough leaves deter some hungry animals from munching on them, keeping the tree safe. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 600-1200 cm - **Spread:** 500-1000 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to Fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Northern Mockingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-mockingbird) (*Mimus polyglottos*) — feasts on its sweet berries - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — visits flowers for nectar and pollen - **Shelter:** [Northern Cardinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-cardinal) (*Cardinalis cardinalis*) — builds nests and rests in its branches ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Be careful not to climb too high in trees, and always ask an adult for help. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Anacua? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Anacua? 600-1200 cm ### How wide does Anacua spread? 500-1000 cm ### How big are the flowers on Anacua? 0.5-1 cm ### When does Anacua bloom? Spring to Fall ### Is Anacua edible? Yes ### Is Anacua toxic? None ### What is Anacua's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Fort Brown](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-brown) — US · Historic Site - [Alamo Plaza Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alamo-plaza-historic-district) — Texas, US · Historic District - [Fort McIntosh](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-mcintosh) — US · Historic Site - [Fort Sam Houston](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-sam-houston) — Texas, US · Historic Site - [Gruene](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gruene) — Texas, US · Historic District - [King William Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/king-william-historic-district) — Texas, US · Historic District [View all places to see Anacua](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/anacua) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Anacua: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/anacua)