Practical
Plants

Arbutus texana

Texas Madrone

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Arbutus genus in the family Ericaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Ericaceae
Genus
Arbutus
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
slow
Height
8 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Bees
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw or cooked. A sweetish taste[4], the fruit has a dry mealy flesh[5]. It has narcotic properties[5]. The fruit is up to 1cm in diameter[8].

Plant part
Fruit

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The bitter principles in the bark and leaves can be used as an astringent[8].

Product or use
Astringent

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Wood - heavy, hard, close grained. Used for small tools, mathematical instruments, rollers etc[11][4]. It is a good fuel and also produces a fine grade of charcoal[4][8].

Product or use
Charcoal
Product or use
Fuel
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Secondary canopy

Environment

Range
South-western N. America - Texas to New Mexico and south to Mexico.
Habitat
Dry limestone hills[11]. Chaparral and somewhat humid oak forests[5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best surface sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Stored seed should be soaked for 5 - 6 days in warm water and then surface sown in a shady position in a greenhouse[10]. Do not allow the compost to become dry. 6 weeks cold stratification helps[3]. The seed usually germinates well in 2 - 3 months at 20°c[3]. Seedlings are prone to damp off[6], they are best transplanted to individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and should be kept well ventilated. Grow them on in a greenhouse for their first winter and then plant out in late spring after the last expected frosts[K]. Basal cuttings in late winter[7]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, November/December in a frame. Poor percentage[10]. Layering of young wood - can take 2 years[1][7].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a lime-free nutrient-rich well-drained moisture-retentive soil in sun or semi-shade and shelter from cold drying winds, especially when young[7]. Succeeds on dry soils[11]. This species is unlikely to be hardy in the colder areas of the country, it probably tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[7]. There is some confusion over the name of this plant, some books suggest that A texana is a synonym of A xalapensis. HBK. whilst others say that A texana exists in its own right and has a synonym of A. xalapensis. non HBK[2][4][7]. A. texana is very closely related to A. xalapense and is considered by many botanists to be indistinguishable from that species[9].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩

  3. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  4. Vines. R. A. Trees of Central Texas. University of Texas Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-292-78958-3

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  5. Pesman. M. W. Meet Flora Mexicana. Dale S. King. Arizona. 1962-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

    ↩

  7. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  8. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩1↩2↩3

  9. Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm

    ↩

  10. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  11. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

    ↩1↩2↩3

Edit this page