Arbutus texana: Texas Madrone

This native North American evergreen tree has beautiful peeling bark and reaches a height of 40 feet, but many trees are much smaller than this. As the tree ages, the outer bark drops off to reveal the smooth, new bark that can range in color from white, apricot, tan, or dark red, and the mixture of colors between old and new bark is quite striking. The dark green leaves, with paler undersides, are joined in springtime with small, white flowers, which have an interesting shape, almost like small lanterns. These blooms are followed by the production of orange or red berries that ripen in fall. Berries are very brightly colored and will attract attention in any landscape.