Arbutus texana
| Arbutus texana | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 8 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-6.5 |
| Evergreen Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 26' |
| Speed: | Slow |
| Blooms: | Early Spring |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Arbutus texana (common name: texas madrone)
Propagation: 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[1]. Do not allow the compost to become dry. 6 weeks cold stratification helps[2]. The seed usually germinates well in 2 - 3 months at 20°c[2]. Seedlings are prone to damp off[3], 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[4].
Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, November/December in a frame. Poor percentage[1].
Layering of young wood - can take 2 years[5][4].
Cultivation: 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[4]. Succeeds on dry soils[6].
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[4].
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[7][8][4]. A. texana is very closely related to A. xalapense and is considered by many botanists to be indistinguishable from that species[9].
Range: South-western N. America - Texas to New Mexico and south to Mexico.
Habitat: Dry limestone hills[6]. Chaparral and somewhat humid oak forests[10].
Edibility: Fruit - raw or cooked. A sweetish taste[8], the fruit has a dry mealy flesh[10]. It has narcotic properties[10]. The fruit is up to 1cm in diameter[11].
Medicinal: The bitter principles in the bark and leaves can be used as an astringent[11].
Usage: Wood - heavy, hard, close grained. Used for small tools, mathematical instruments, rollers etc[6][8]. It is a good fuel and also produces a fine grade of charcoal[8][11].
Pollinators: Bees
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Seed Ripens: Late Summer
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: A. xalapensis. non H.B.K..
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Rice, Graham. Growing from Seed Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan, 1988.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Shrubs. Pan Books, 1989.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Sargent, Charles. Manual of the Trees of North America. Dover, 1965.
- ↑ Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Vines, Robert. Trees of Central Texas. University of Texas Press, 1987.
- ↑ Diggs, George and Barney Lipscomb. Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas. Botanical Research Institute, 1999.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Pesman, M. Meet Flora Mexicana. Dale S King, 1962.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Elias, Thomas. The Complete Trees of North America. Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1980.