Madrone, Texas

The Texas Madrone occurs in the Trans-Pecos and areas of the Edwards Plateau typically reach a maximum height of 40 feet. The Madrone is quite tolerant and adaptable. It’s fairly isometric in form being as wide as it is tall and characterized as being evergreen. The multi-stem trunk is diagnostic for the Madrone with the split very close to the ground.

In early spring it produces clusters of the small, white lantern-shaped FLOWERS that are so typical of members of the heath family. The yellow-orange to bright red berry-like FRUIT that ripen in the fall, rival those of any female holly tree.

The evergreen LEAVES are dark green above and paler on the underside. Perhaps the greatest beauty of Texas Madrone is its lovely exfoliating BARK. When the older layers slough off, the newer bark is smooth and can range from white to orange through shades of apricot to dark red.

Other members of the heath family grow on highly acidic soils in wet sites, but Texas Madrone grows in a more xeric climate, must have good drainage, and grows equally well on slightly acidic to alkaline soils. In a landscape situation, the amount of water it receives and the type of drainage are much more important than the type of soil in which it grows.
The fruit is food to most types of WILDLIFE especially when the tree is located in dryer locations where food and water less abundant.