Botanical Scout plant profile

Arroyo Sweetwood

Myrospermum sousanum

An airy, relatively fast-growing small tree with white flowers whose fragrance has earned it the cinnamon-toast nickname.

Photos & videoSelect an image to enlarge it

See what your seedlings can become

Mature plant shown for reference. Seedlings are what you receive.

Mature Arroyo Sweetwood tree with soft green compound foliage beneath a clear blue sky — Mature plant — growth reference

Three young Arroyo Sweetwood seedlings in a square green nursery pot beside a measuring tape — Seedlings — plants you receive

Plant fit at a glance

Mature height & width: About 15–20 ft tall and wide
Foliage: Deciduous
Winter cold: Cold performance varies with site and seed source; provide winter protection north of Austin
Before planting: Allow room for its canopy and avoid moving an established tree unnecessarily.

Dimensions and cold guidance describe established plants, not a guarantee for seedlings. Protect young plants; soil, drainage, exposure, and freeze duration matter.

Growing reference

Open the growing guide

Before you choose

Is it a good match for your landscape?

Mature form: Fast-growing, multi-trunked small tree
Growing conditions: Full sun to light shade · Rocky, sandy, or fast-draining soil · Heat · Low water once established

Plan for a multi-trunked tree about 10–20 feet tall and wide. Well-drained soil, establishment watering, and winter shelter help young plants begin strongly.

Acclimation, establishment watering, and arrival care are explained once in the Botanical Scout growing guide →

The personal story

Why I keep growing Arroyo Sweetwood

It is sometimes called the cinnamon-toast tree because of the fragrance of its spring flowers. Although it is also sometimes described as a Texas native, authoritative botanical sources place its natural range entirely in northeastern Mexico.

Arroyo Sweetwood was encountered by Houston plantsman Lynn Lowrey and his companions in northeastern Mexico in 1982 and formally described in 1984. It remains an uncommon nursery plant.

Its airy foliage and white flowers give it a soft appearance. The fragrance of its flowers, often compared to cinnamon, vanilla, or cinnamon toast, is the feature that makes its sweetwood name especially memorable.

Arroyo Sweetwood

See what your seedlings can become

Plant fit at a glance

Is it a good match for your landscape?

Why I keep growing Arroyo Sweetwood

Two more plants worth knowing.

Texas Ebony

Goldenball Leadtree