Tepame

Vachellia pennatula (Schltdl. & Cham.) Seigler & Ebinger

Family: Fabaceae

Pet & Human Safety

People: Hazard to peoplePets: Not on the ASPCA lists as we read them

Hazardous parts

thorns (IDEFOR calls it a spiny tree; the thorn hazard itself is not described)

Preparation

n/a

Hazard type

Not yet checked.

Hazard route

Not stated by our sources (not a clearance). Detail: no human-hazard statement

How complete this information is

We have not researched the safety of this plant yet.

Toxic to pets

No ASPCA entry found.

ASPCA index has no Vachellia pennatula or Acacia pennatula page. The Arizona arboretum record lists toxicity "Benign" and allergen "Non-allergenic"; that is a campus-record field, not a pet-safety finding. Do not treat as pet-safe.

PlotAndPetal cannot tell you whether a plant you found can be eaten. Only someone who can see the plant can identify it.

Look-alike warning

Could be mistaken for Other plants with a similar name or look. To tell them apart: Match on the scientific name, Vachellia pennatula (Schltdl. & Cham.) Seigler & Ebinger (CONAFOR IDEFOR sheet and Kew WCVP agree; the Arizona arboretum lists it under the older name Acacia pennatula), not on the common name.. Older sources (the Arizona arboretum) file this as Acacia pennatula; the Celaya list prints it beside other "huizache" species (Vachellia schaffneri and Vachellia farnesiana), which are different trees. "Huizache" is a group name.

Poison control

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.

Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.

Naturalist Lore

Historical Background & Breeding Lore

The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.

Get the app: coming soon

Care

Hardiness zones: Not checked yet
Light: direct sun (Celaya planting table).
Water needs: low (Arizona arboretum water-use field "Low water use"; IDEFOR: tolerates drought); Celaya municipal planting schedule (a weak source for plant needs): water every third day while establishing, then weekly. The level is a plain-language reading of the source wording cited. Always finger-test two inches down.
Mature size: MX: IDEFOR: 3 to 12 m (about 10 to 39 ft) tall, sometimes a 25 cm trunk; US: Arizona arboretum: 20 to 50 ft tall, 16 to 20 ft wide; MX Celaya table: Celaya planting table: 1.0 m to 3.0 m tall, crown 3.0 to 5.0 m

Soil & Drainage

Pruning & Flush Rhythm

Feeding Schedule

How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.

Get the app: coming soon