-----------------------------------------------------------------------
  **littleleaf leadtree**

  ***Leucaena retusa* Benth.**

  Plant Symbol = LERE5
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*Contributed by: USDA NRCS Knox City, Texas Plant Materials Center*

Clarence A. Rechenthin

Courtesy of USDA NRCS Texas State Office

##### Alternate Names {#alternate-names .Header-3}

Littleleaf leucaena, goldenball leadtree, wahoo tree, lemonball

##### Uses {#uses .Header-3}

*Wildlife:* Littleleaf leadtree is very palatable and considered a high
quality browse plant by many herbivores. White-tailed deer will browse
littleleaf leadtree leaves and tinder stems whenever plants are
available. Littleleaf leadtree provides good cover for game animals,
game birds, small non-game birds, and small mammals. Littleleaf leadtree
is not considered an important honey plant and has minimal wood value.
Seeds of littleleaf leadtree are high in protein and used as food for
wildlife and livestock.

*Recreation and beautification:* Planted are commonly used as an
ornamental in Central and West Texas. The yellow flowers and large
leaflets make littleleaf leadtree an attractive ornamental plant. Plants
maybe found at nurseries specializing in native plants. Its exotic
looking blossoms, and open grow form make it an attractive plant for
home landscapes. Littleleaf leadtree plants are well suited for use
along highways for ornamental purpose because of their golden globe
shaped flowers and drought hardiness.

![](media/image3.jpeg){width="2.10625in"
height="3.3673611111111112in"}*Ethnobotanic:* Some species of *Leucaena*
seeds used for food, and plants for alley cropping. No reported uses for
*L. retusa.\
*

*Livestock:* Littleleaf leadtree leaves and seeds are commonly browsed
by cattle, sheep and goats.

*Restoration:* Littleleaf leadtree is considered an important species
for wildlife and restoring native habitat in the hill country of West
Texas. Littleleaf leadtree plants establish easily from seed and being a
legume will fix nitrogen in the soil for other plants to use.

##### Status {#status .Header-3}

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status (e.g. threatened or endangered
species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

##### Description {#description .Header-3}

*General:* Leguminosae (Fabaceae) Littleleaf leadtree is a native
warm-season very decorative, single or multi-stem small tree. In an
undisturbed state, plants can reach 25 feet in height. Its bright green,
twice-pinnately compound leaves cast a filtered shade, and the bright
yellow powder-puff flowers appear from April - October. Large flower
flushes occurring after rains. The fruit is a straight, narrow pod 3 to
10 inches long and ½ inch in width. Littleleaf leadtree is very drought
tolerant and can withstand reflected heat. The bark is cinnamon-colored
and flaky. The wood is brittle and can break in high winds and ice
storms. Plants easily re-sprout when disturbed.

*Distribution:* For current distribution, please consult the Plant
Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

*Habitat:* Littleleaf Leadtree is found on limestone hills and dry rocky
slopes in western portions of the Edwards Plateau and the Trans-Pecos
area. Plants may also be found in New Mexico and Mexico. It is adapted
to different soils, but prefers good drainage.

##### Adaptation {#adaptation .Header-3}

The USDA hardiness zones for littleleaf leadtree are 7 to 9.

##### Establishment {#establishment .Header-3}

Seed of littleleaf lead tree can be collected in late summer into fall.
Collect seed pods before they split open and drop seeds. Seed of
littleleaf leadtree can be planted from late winter (March) to late
spring (May). Plant seeds at 1/4 to 3/4 inch deep in areas protected
from browsing animals. Scarification is not necessary to improve
germination, untreated seed will establish easily. Seed should also be
inoculated with the correct rhizobial bacteria before planting.
Fertilizer applications will improve seedling growth.

Seedlings can successfully be grown in nursery pots and transplanted
when needed.

##### Management {#management .Header-3}

Established plants require little maintenance. Littleleaf leadtree will
reseed and re-establish if young seedlings are protected from grazing
animals. In areas where prescribed burning is permitted, unwanted top
growth may be controlled allowing plants to re-sprout tender new growth.

##### Seeds and Plant Production {#seeds-and-plant-production .Header-3}

Most seed collected for production has been accomplished by hand picking
from native trees. Attempts to mechanically harvest seed have not been
successful. Seed production fields can be established by planting
littleleaf leadtree plants in a 10 X 10 foot block. Being a legume that
fixes nitrogen littleleaf leadtree plants only needs one small
application of phosphorous applied in the spring each year. Seeds are
ready for harvest in late summer. Harvested seeds need to be dried for
one to two days and treated with some type of insecticide before
storage. Seed will remain viable for at least two years if stored in a
cool dry place.

##### Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) {#cultivars-improved-and-selected-materials-and-area-of-origin .Header-3}

'Yellow Puff' littleleaf leadtree a cultivar release from the USDA-NRCS
Knox City Plant Materials Center in TX, selected for use as a leguminous
shrub or small tree for revegetation of critical areas, as a wildlife
food plant, and as a plant for beautification.

Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office for
more information. Look in the phone book under "United States
Government." The Natural Resources Conservation Service will be listed
under the subheading "Department of Agriculture."

##### References {#references .Header-3}

Cox, P. W. and P. Leslie. 1988. Texas trees. Corona Publ. Co., San
Antonio. 374 pp.

Elias, T. S. 1980. The complete trees of North America field guide and
natural history. Times Mirror Magazine, Inc., New York, New York.

Englert, J. M. et al. 1999--. USDA-NRCS Improved conservation plant
materials released by NRCS and cooperators. (NRCS Cons Pl Mat)

Hatch, S. L., K. N. Gandhi, and L. E. Brown. 1991. Checklist of the
vascular plants of Texas. Texas Agric. Exp. Sta. MP-1655 College
Station. 158 pp.

Kingsberry, J. M. 1964. Poisonous plants of the United States and
Canada. Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, N.J. 626 pp.

Native American Ethnobotany Database (http://herb.umd.umich.edu, 13 June
2006). University of Michigan - Dearborn.

Native plant database (http://www.wildflower2. org/NPIN/Plants/plant.
html, 13 June 2006). Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Austin.

Nokes, J. 1986. How to grow native plants of Texas and the Southwest.
Texas Monthly Press, Inc. Austin. 404 pp

Pellett, F. C. 1976. [American Honey
Plants](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0915698013/steveshelto05-20),
5th ed. Dadant and Sons, Hamilton, Ill.

Simpson, B. J. 1988. A field guide to Texas trees. Texas Monthly Press
Austin, Texas.

Van Dersal, W. R. 1938. Native woody plants of the United States: their
erosion-control and wildlife values. U.S. Dep. Agric. Misc. Publ. No.
303, Washington, D.C. 362 pp.

Vines, R. A. 1960. Trees, shrubs and woody vines of the southwest. Univ.
of Texas Press, Austin. 1104 pp.

Native Plant Information Network. 2001.

USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program.\
Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) \[Online Database\].
National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.\
URL: http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl (13 March 2006).

USDA, NRCS 2006. The PLANTS database. ([http://plants.usda.gov)]().
National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA. Accessed: 13
March 2006.

##### Prepared By and Species Coordinator {#prepared-by-and-species-coordinator .Header-3}

Morris J Houck

USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, Knox City, Texas

*Edited: 20jun06 jsp*

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
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