All plants /Tree /Texas Madrone
Texas Madrone
Arbutus xalapensis, heath family. Uncommon in West and Central Texas.
At a glance
- What
- Red-orange berries
- How
- Raw or cooked
- When
- Fall
- Where
- Rocky Hill Country and West Texas slopes
- Value
- Sugars
Caution: Mealy and only mildly sweet; eaten in moderation. Prized more as a beautiful tree than a heavy food. Never eat a wild plant on this guide's word alone. Confirm identity against several sources and learn the look-alikes first.
Identification
Unmistakable smooth peeling bark in cream, pink, and terracotta, with clusters of round red-orange fruit. A slow-growing Hill Country treasure worth protecting.
In the kitchen
The grainy berries are pleasant fresh in small amounts and cook into a mild jelly.
Photo: Internet Archive Book Images, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons.
Forages well with
Forage safely. Never eat a wild plant on this site's word alone. Confirm identity with several sources, learn the look-alikes, and when in doubt, leave it in the ground.