Colima

Part shade or sun. Nearly evergreen, even in very cold temperatures, with prickly branches and a mounding form. The compound leaves bear distinctive “wings” (along the rachis) and, as the name suggests, they do smell like “lime” or, basically, Fruit Loops cereal.

In the tropics, colima can grow into a tree, but in South Texas it tends to remain shrub-like in sand or clay. It has been used in remedies and natural toothpastes; the chewed leaves tend to numb the mouth. Look for it at nurseries specializing in native plants, especially in the Rio Grande Valley. It is very thorny.