Kingdom Plantae Family Fabaceae Tribe Acacieae Rank Variety | Order Fabales Subfamily Mimosoideae Genus Vachellia | |
 | ||
Similar Sweet Acacia, Vachellia, Acacia suaveolens, Prosopis glandulosa, Senegalia greggii | ||
Vachellia farnesiana var. farnesiana (Huisache or sweet acacia) is a species of shrub or small tree in the legume family, Fabaceae. It is native to the Americas, including the Southern United States, Mexico, and the Neotropics. V. f. var. farnesiana has been planted throughout the world, and is often considered a weed. The name huisache is derived from Nahuatl and means "many thorns," as the base of each leaf is accompanied by a pair of thorns on the branch. It reaches a height of 15–30 feet (4.6–9.1 m) and grows multiple trunks. Deer and peccaries eat its fruit, various birds use the plant for nesting and cover, and insects eat the nectar from its flowers. If disturbed, Huisache will readily resprout. This drought-tolerant species is often used in xeriscaping.
It exudes a gum which is sometimes collected. The flowers distill a perfume which has been described as "delicious".