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    • Photo of Arbutus menziesii form by bobrpics

    Photo by bobrpics

    Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic

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    Arbutus menziesii

    Also Known As

    • Madrona
    • Madrone
    • Pacific Madrone

    Plant type

    tree

    size

    • H: 20'-100'
    • W: 20'-40'

    planting zones

    • 7a-10b

    More Options

    Arbutus menziesii plant details

    Arbutus menziesii is a broadleaf evergreen tree with green foliage. In spring pink and white flowers emerge followed by orange and red fruit. Features glossy texture. Attracts bees, birds and hummingbirds making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with sun - mostly sun and occasional - low water. Drought tolerant once established. Prefers to be dry in summer. Does well in acidic, average, gritty, lean, rocky and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something seaside / salt tolerant.

    CHARACTERISTICS OF Arbutus menziesii

    Plant type: tree
    Plant family: ericaceae
    Foliage: evergreen green
    Mature size: 20 FT - 40 FT - wide, 20 FT - 100 FT - tall
    Flowers: pink and white blooms in spring
    Uses: distinctive bark, peeling bark

    GROWING CONDITIONS for Arbutus menziesii

    USDA Zones: 7a - 10b
    Sun exposure: sun - mostly sun
    Watering frequency: occasional - low
    Resistant to: seaside / salt
    Soil needs: acidic, average, gritty, lean, rocky and well-drained

    Nursery contributed plant descriptions

    Whether you know it as a madrone, madrona or madroño this western U.S. native is a delight! A magnificent and elegant large (30-100') tree which is celebrated for its satiny reddish-copper bark which peels off in curling strips to reveal its greenish inner bark and for its large glossy deep-green leaves. Spring brings masses of showy, fragrant, white bell-shaped flowers which become interesting red fruits much loved by the birds. The berries are edible and were used by the Native Americans for food, medicine and cider. The very hard wood can be used as flooring and is also used for firewood. This wonderful tree is in decline in the wild due to fire suppression and increased development. Not the easiest of trees to transplant and grow, but well worth the effort! S/D/GDr

    By: Forestfarm

    A Northwest native; highly ornamental cinnamon bark that peels mid-summer. Creamy flowers, and orange-red autumn berries. Requires coarse, well-drained soil, and grows best in full sun on a south-facing slope.

    By: Heritage Seedlings

    This evergreen tree averages 30 ft in height and a 25 ft spread. Madrones are slow to moderate growing but are prized for their attractive reddish bark that peels to reveal blond wood underneath. White to pink urn-shaped flowers arrive in the fall followed by bright orange edible berries. This tree needs good drainage. Native to California and is also found outside of California, but is confined to western North America. Pacific madrone provides excellent erosion control and slope stabilization. Pacific madrone is a well-known bee and hummingbird plant. Past commercial uses of Pacific madrone include using bark for tanning leathers and wood for making charcoal for gunpowder. West Coast tribes ate the berries and fashioned eating utensils from the bulbous roots. Found in forested, woodland canyons and slopes, and chaparral communities. . Communitites located in Redwood Forest, Mixed Evergreen Forest, Douglas-Fir Forest, Foothill Woodland, Northern Oak Woodland, Southern Oak Woodland Between 0 and 5000 feet.

    By: The Watershed Nursery

    A truly stunning native tree though somewhat temperamental in the garden. Commonly found in the mixed evergreen forests of the Pacific slope, it exhibits a straight, clean trunk and broad crown to 60'. The deciduous bark peels in vertical strips to reveal a smooth, terracotta-colored inner layer that is luminous when wet with rain. Spring flowers are produced in compound, milk-white clusters, March to May. The large 3 to 5" leaves are bright green and glossy. Tolerant of shade and most soils, but they must be well-drained. Slow to moderate growth. Arguably the most attractive California broadleaf tree. Named in 1769 by Father Juan Crespi, chronicler of the Portola Expedition, the first Spanish land exploration of the California coast, for the similar "strawberry tree" in Spain. Red-orange berries attract robins and cedar waxwings. More successful when used in Northern California. Keeping the root zone cool will help with disease problems in warmer climates. Hardy to 0F. British Columbia to Southern California.

    By: Native Sons

    Blooms: spring-summer, white, orange fruit/ evergreen, glossy dark green foliage Zone 7-9. 10'-30', PNW, part shade-sun, moist-dry, well drained

    By: Keeping it Green Nursery

    The signature broadleaved evergreen of the Pacific Northwest. Sensuous cinnamon bark, white flowers, and loads of red berries. Achoice tree for a a spot in the garden that is not only unwatered but never has to see a hose at all. Half to full sun, well-drained soil, and plenty of neglect. Cold hardy to USDA zone 7.

    By: Cistus Nursery

    After trekking to the farthest reaches of downtown Poulsbo, over many a perilous sidewalk, and with painstaking care to elude the fierce native peoples, I am pleased to bring you this collection of our own native Madrona, western Washington's largest native broadleaf evergreen tree and, you may be interested to know, the largest member of the Ericaceae family, containing such genera as Rhododendron, Erica and Pieris. Wild trees are peppered about the Pacific Northwest, frequently (but not always) found somewhat close to salt water in the northern part of their range. In a few places in western Washington, pure stands can be found; these are truly a sight to behold. This tree stands out among all others in the Northwest, with its beautiful ornamental bark, which is usually peeling and smooth with some persistent patches, showy white flowers in spring, and attractive red berries in fall. Once established, it grows at a moderate, steady pace; assuming an irregular, contorted habit but with a rounder, denser crown in more sun. Nurseries seldom offer this plant, because plants pre-grown in the ground do not transplant successfully, and plants grown in containers are easily killed from overwatering. Once planted in the garden, however, its needs are simple: decent soil drainage, and a period of summer drought. If you have hot, humid summers, you are really pushing your luck growing this plant. But it is known to thrive in coastal areas of the UK that receive significant summer rainfall but are quite cool year-round. Hardy to -5°F.

    By: The Desert Northwest

    Temperamental to establish but always worth a try provided it has good drainage and no summer water. Amazing bark. Large tree to 35 feet if content.

    By: Dancing Oaks Nursery

    Gardening facts about Arbutus menziesii plant

    How to Grow Arbutus menziesii

    • Sun Exposure

      • sun - mostly sun

    • Water Needs

      • occasional - drought tolerant

    • Water Needs

      • dry in summer

    • Soil Needs

      • acidic
      • average
      • lean
      • well-drained
      • rocky
      • gritty

    • Special Situation

      • seaside / salt tolerant

    Features

    • Foliage Color

      • green

    • Flower Color

      • white
      • pink

    • Wildlife

      • birds
      • bees
      • hummingbirds

    • Fruit

      • red
      • orange

    • Flower Season

      • spring

    • Foliage Season

      • evergreen

    • Texture

      • glossy

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