Plant of the Month – March 2024
Lucky Nut
Thevetia peruviana
If you did not find your pot of gold on St. Patrick’s Day, you can still find it in the beauty of our March Plant of the Month, the Lucky Nut. Unique in appearance, this small tree radiates eye catching qualities that will have you chasing leprechauns to discover its visual riches. The canopy of this tree is densely covered in long linear foliage. These finely shaped leaves are bright green and glossy for a bold appearance and texture that contrasts vividly with the surrounding landscape. The Lucky Nut has exceptional flowering capabilities, as they bloom nearly year-round. And like a leprechaun’s pot of gold, the flowers are bright yellow to gold in color and cover the tree numerously like a treasure trove. Its linear bright green foliage creates a dense backdrop for the large flowers, creating an attractive variance lucky enough to behold. But just like the trickery of a leprechaun, all parts of this beautiful tree are poisonous, and caution should be used in its handling and location in the landscape. If you can’t find a four-leaf clover to get luck on your side, the nut from its seed pod, once dried out and safe to handle, is said to bring good luck, hence its name “Lucky Nut”.
In addition to the distinct foliage and incredible blooms of the Lucky Nut, its trunk and stems turn a silvery gray color as it matures, adding to its distinguished attributes. This tree thrives in full sun and has exceptional tolerance to drought and heat, making it an excellent option for xeric landscaping. It is also known to be salt tolerant and can be used in coastal areas. Although St. Patrick’s Day has past, you can still add green and gold to your landscape with year-round luck with the Lucky Nut this March.
Written by: Christian Brewer, Landscape Designer
