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Texas Madrone and Sassafras


What is

Life Span
Perennial  
Perennial  

Type
Tree  
Broadleaf Evergreen  

Origin
North America, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Canada  
Southwestern United States, Texas, Mexico, Central America  

Types
-  
Arbutus xalapensis  

Number of Varieties
3  
10  

Habitat
Dappled Shade, Sunny Edge, Woodland Garden Canopy  
limestone outcrops, Open Plains  

USDA Hardiness Zone
3-9  
7-11  

AHS Heat Zone
10-1  
-  

Sunset Zone
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  

Information

Plant Size
  
  

Minimum Height
1,520.00 cm  
28
640.00 cm  
99+

Minimum Width
1,220.00 cm  
14
795.00 cm  
26

Plant Color
  
  

Flower Color
Yellow green, Chartreuse  
White, Ivory  

Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor  
-  

Fruit Color
Green, Indigo, Black  
Red, Orange  

Leaf Color in Spring
Green  
Green, Blue Green, Olive  

Leaf Color in Summer
Green  
Green, Blue Green, Olive  

Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow, Red, Orange, Yellow green, Bronze, Orange Red  
Green, Blue Green, Olive  

Leaf Color in Winter
-  
Green, Blue Green, Olive  

Shape
  
  

Leaf Shape
Ovate  
Elliptic and Ovate  

Thorns
No  
No  

Season

Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall  
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, Alkaline  
Neutral, Alkaline  

Soil Drainage
Average  
Well drained  

Bloom Time
Spring  
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter  

Repeat Bloomer
No  
No  

Tolerances
-  
Drought  

Care

Where to Plant?
Ground  
Container, Ground  

How to Plant?
Seedlings  
Seedlings  

Plant Maintenance
Medium  
Medium  

Watering Plants
  
  

Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water  
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, Alkaline  
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
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves  
Remove dead or diseased plant parts  

Fertilizers
Nitrogen, Phosphorous  
-  

Pests and Diseases
Foliage diseases  
-  

Plant Tolerance
Drought  
Drought  

Facts

Flowers
Insignificant  
Showy  

Flower Petal Number
Single  
Single  

Fruits
  
  

Showy Fruit
No  
Yes  

Edible Fruit
No  
Yes  

Fragrance
  
  

Fragrant Flower
No  
No  

Fragrant Fruit
Yes  
No  

Fragrant Leaf
Yes  
No  

Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes  
No  

Showy Foliage
Yes  
No  

Showy Bark
Yes  
Yes  

Foliage Texture
Medium  
Medium  

Foliage Sheen
Matte  
Glossy  

Evergreen
No  
Yes  

Invasive
No  
No  

Self-Sowing
Yes  
No  

Attracts
Insects  
Birds  

Allergy
Dermatitis, Diaphoresis  
-  

Benefits

Uses
  
  

Aesthetic Uses
-  
-  

Beauty Benefits
Skin Problems  
-  

Edible Uses
Yes  
Yes  

Environmental Uses
Air purification  
Food for birds, Shelter for wildlife  

Plant Benefits
  
  

Medicinal Uses
Alterative, Anodyne, Antirheumatic, Antiseptic, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Diuretic  
Astringent  

Part of Plant Used
Leaves  
Fruits, Wood  

Other Uses
Used as a condiment, Used in making tea, Used to flavour soups  
Used for making wheel hubs, tool handles, Used for woodware  

Used As Indoor Plant
No  
No  

Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes  
Yes  

Garden Design
Shade Trees, Street Trees  
Edible, Feature Plant  

Scientific Name

Botanical Name
SASSAFRAS albidum  
ARBUTUS xalapensis  

Common Name
Sassafras  
Lady's Leg, Manzanita, Texas Madrone  

In Hindi
Sassafras  
Texas Madrone  

In German
Sassafras  
Texas Madrone  

In French
Sassafras  
Texas Madrone  

In Spanish
Sasafrás  
Arbutus xalapensis  

In Greek
σασάφρα  
Texas Madrone  

In Portuguese
sassafrás  
Texas Madrone  

In Polish
Sassafras  
Texas Madrone  

In Latin
Sassafras  
Texas Madrone  

Classification

Kingdom
Plantae  
Plantae  

Phylum
Magnoliophyta  
Tracheophyta  

Class
Magnoliopsida  
Magnoliopsida  

Order
Laurales  
Ericales  

Family
Lauraceae  
Ericaceae  

Genus
Sassafras  
Arbutus  

Clade
Angiosperms, Magnoliids  
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots  

Tribe
Cinnamomeae  
-  

Subfamily
Lauroideae  
-  

Number of Species
4  
99+
1  

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