- Trees and Shrubs
- >
- Madrone
Madrone
Arbutus menziesii, 1 gal.
Pacific madrone is arguably one of our most beautiful and recognizable native trees and is the tall cousin of manzanita shrubs, potentially growing over 100 feet tall. The trunk and branches showcase patterns of peeling copper bark with smooth olive to red wood beneath. White urn-shaped flowers grow in compound racemes and mature into bumpy orange-red fruits that provide striking contrast to the evergreen foliage. It may be difficult to establish and its slow growth may tempt gardeners to seek older individuals but small saplings planted before winter rains are more likely to survive. It prefers sun and acidic well-drained soils as it is intolerant of wet soils. Older trees tolerate drought and sea spray.
photo credit: 111/365 — Madrone in bloom, Cynthia Cheney, Flickr, CC BY-NC 2.0 DEED