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Arbutus menziesii
Also called Pacific Arbutus, Laurelwood, Oregon Laurel, Arbutus, Arbutus Tree, Madrona, Refrigerator Tree
Pacific madrone is a large broadleaf evergreen tree native to the west coast of North America, grown mainly outdoors in mild climates. The key to growing it is to plant a small seedling in a sunny, well-drained, lime-free site and then leave it alone, since it resents transplanting.
Arbutus menziesii, or Pacific madrone (commonly madrone or madrona in the United States and arbutus in Canada), is a species of broadleaf evergreen tree in the family Ericaceae. It has waxy foliage, a contorted growth habit, and flaky bark.
It is native to the western coastal areas of North America, from British Columbia to California.
The trees are difficult to transplant and a seedling should be set in its permanent spot while still small. Transplant mortality becomes significant once a madrone is more than 30 cm (1 ft) tall. The site should be sunny (south- or west-facing slopes are best), well drained, and lime-free (although occasionally a seedling will establish itself on a shell midden). In its native range, a tree needs no extra water or food once it has become established.
Madrones are native to the western coast of North America, from British Columbia (chiefly Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands) to California. They are mainly found in Puget Sound, the Oregon Coast Range, and the California Coast Ranges, but are also scattered on the west slope of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges.
The berries are considered unpalatable and may be harmful if consumed by people or pets. According to legend, Native Americans ate the berries raw and cooked, but because the berries have a high tannin content and are thus astringent, they more often chewed them or made them into a cider. Overeating causes cramps. Native Americans also use the berries to make necklaces and other decorations, and as bait for fishing (as did the Karuk people to catch steelhead). The bark was often made into tea to be drunk for supposed medicinal purposes.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Arbutus menziesii by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
