Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Broadleaf Evergreen
Origin
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States
Southwestern United States, Texas, Mexico, Central America
Types
-
Arbutus xalapensis
Number of Varieties
310
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
bottomlands, Depression on prairies, ditches, Floodplains, Riverbanks, stream banks, Swamps
limestone outcrops, Open Plains
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-97-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-1
-
Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Oval/Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,220.00 cm640.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
1,220.00 cm795.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Brown
White, Ivory
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Black
Red, Orange
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Green, Blue Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Green, Blue Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow, Light Yellow, Tan
Green, Blue Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Green, Blue Green, Olive
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oval with a pointed tip and fine teeth along their edges
Elliptic and Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Slow
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Wet Site, Pollution, Soil Compaction
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires a lot of watering, Requires regular watering
Do not water frequently
In Summer
Lots of watering
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
In Spring
Moderate
Average Water
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune in the late winter or spring, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Shape and thin as needed
Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, No need to fertilize every year
-
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Red blotch, Sawfly Larvae
-
Plant Tolerance
Pollution, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
-
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Birds
Allergy
Asthma
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Erosion control, Wildlife
Food for birds, Shelter for wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Astringent
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Fruits, Wood
Other Uses
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Used for making wheel hubs, tool handles, Used for woodware
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Edible, Feature Plant
Botanical Name
BETULA nigra
ARBUTUS xalapensis
Common Name
River Birch
Lady's Leg, Manzanita, Texas Madrone
In Hindi
River Birch
Texas Madrone
In German
Fluss Birch
Texas Madrone
In French
Birch river
Texas Madrone
In Spanish
river Birch
Arbutus xalapensis
In Greek
ποταμός Birch
Texas Madrone
In Portuguese
river Birch
Texas Madrone
In Polish
Rzeka Birch
Texas Madrone
In Latin
Betula
Texas Madrone
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Fagales
Ericales
Family
Betulaceae
Ericaceae
Genus
Betula
Arbutus
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
-
Number of Species
31
1
27800
👆🏻