David L. Morgan
Family
Ericaceae
Botanical Name
ARBUTUS xalapensis
Plant Common Name
Lady's Leg, Manzanita, Texas Madrone
General Description
This picturesque small tree is grown for its early blooms, colorful bark and berries, and handsome evergreen foliage. It is native to rocky slopes and ledges from southern Texas and New Mexico to Guatemala.
The leathery oval leaves of Texas madrone are bluish- to olive-green with paler undersides. Erect clusters of small, urn-shaped, creamy-white to pinkish flowers open at the branch tips from late winter to early spring. Bees, hummingbirds, and other pollinators visit the blooms. Round, warty berries develop in spring and summer, ripening to red in autumn. The fruits are a favorite of birds. The trunk and older branches of Texas madrone develop mottled, multi-colored bark as patches of outer bark flake away. Bark colors include gray, cream, red-brown, orange, pink and tan.
Often fussy in cultivation, Texas madrone requires full to partial sun and slightly acidic to moderately alkaline soil. Soil must be well-drained but not overly dry. It makes a lovely small specimen tree for gardens and naturalistic plantings in warm arid regions of the western United States. It is listed as endangered in Texas.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
12 - 3
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USDA Hardiness Zone
7 - 11
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Plant Type
Broadleaf Evergreen
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
12'-30' / 3.7m - 9.1m
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Width
12'-40' / 3.7m - 12.2m
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Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter
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Native To
Southwestern United States, Texas, Mexico, Central America
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Loam, Sand
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Tolerances
Drought
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Growth Rate
Slow
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Water Requirements
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
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Habit
Oval/Rounded
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
White, Ivory
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Fruit Color
Red, Orange
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green, Blue Green, Olive
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green, Blue Green, Olive
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Green, Blue Green, Olive
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Foliage Color (Winter)
Green, Blue Green, Olive
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Bark Color
Red, Orange, Rose, Peach, Burgundy, Tan, Sandy Brown, Sienna, Ivory, Gray
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Bark Color Modifier
Multi-Color
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
Yes
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Edible Fruit
Yes
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Medium
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Foliage Sheen
Glossy
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Evergreen
Yes
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Showy Bark
Yes
Special Characteristics
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Bark Texture
Exfoliating
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Usage
Edible, Feature Plant
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
No
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Attracts
Birds, Hummingbirds
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Self-Sowing
No