Q. One of my neighbors has a tree that is about 30 feet tall that has a nice round shape with evergreen leaves that is covered with yellow berries right now that are attracting lots of different bird species. When I asked him what the kind of a tree it was, he said “sandpaper tree.' I guess he calls it that because the leaves are coarse and fuzzy. Is there another name for it? Is it recommended as a shade tree in our area?
A. I believe you are describing an Anaqua tree (Ehretia anacua). Anaqua is a relatively slow growing tree native to South Texas that makes a good small shade tree. It is included on the CPS Energy rebate program list of trees eligible for rebates in San Antonio. As you did a good job of describing it, Anaqua is a favorite summer berry source for birds. The dense crown is also a favorite nesting site. The white blooms in the spring also attract the pollinators. In addition to being attractive and a wildlife attracting tree, Anaqua is drought tolerant and pest free.