Arbutus menziesii
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PACIFIC MADRONE, MADRONA, MADRONE, MADRONO
Family: Ericaceae
Pronounced: Ar-BU-tus men-ZEEZ-ee-eye
GROWING GUIDE
Geographic Origin:
British Columbia, California, Oregon and Washington
Plant Group:
Broadleaf, evergreen tree.
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Mature size: Height: 50-100 feet (15-30 m), cultivated trees stand 20-50 feet (6-15 m). Width: up to 50 feet (15 m).
Flowering period: May.
Flowering attributes: Greenish-white, ¼" long, sweetly fragrant flowers on panicles, are followed by pea-sized red fruits that turn red in fall and remain on the tree well into winter.
Leaf attributes: Glossy, evergreen, alternate, simple, 2 to 6" long leaves. Dark green above and glaucous to white underneath.
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Soil: Dry, infertile soil.
Propagation Methods: Stratify seeds naturally outdoors over winter for 30-90 days. Scarification with sulfuric acid does not help in germination. | Semi-ripe cuttings in summer. | Layering.
Pruning Methods: Keep pruning to a minimum; however, if you need to prune out wayward or crossing stems, do so in late winter or early spring.
Pests and Diseases: Nattrassia mangiferae is an endemic fungus that is causing problems with our native madronas. Phytophthora cactorum–Root Rot and Canker is another possible problem for the tree.
Rainy Side Notes
Arbutus, a Latin word, means strawberry tree–for its red fruits.
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In British Columbia, we commonly call these broadleaf, evergreen trees Arbutus. In Washington and Oregon, we call them madrona, and in California–madrone. No matter what we call them, they are magnificent trees that grow naturally along the bluffs of our waterways. Magnolia Bluff, a neighborhood in Seattle overlooking Puget Sound, was misnamed because of a navy geographer. In the 1850s, the geographer spotted the madronas, while he was on a ship on the Puget Sound, and unfortunately, he misidentified the trees as Magnolias. Anyone that has been to the Bluff can see madronas cover the area, not Magnolias.
In the wild, our native Pacific Madrone grows into large noble trees. The majority grow 50-75 feet tall.
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As a cultivated tree, it normally doesn't grow over 50 feet tall. This native tree is difficult to cultivate in garden settings because of too much irrigation for its liking. It is necessary to start with a small seedling, as older trees do not transplant well and are difficult to establish. Small seedlings are painstakingly slow to grow, as I am finding out with one I planted three years ago that seems to have gained only a few inches in stature in that time span. Give it a dry, well-drained spot in the garden where there is minimal irrigation. If you must water, do so infrequently and give a deep soaking.
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For wildlife, this tree is important. In spring, deer eat the blossoms, and what the deer leave behind the bees pollinate and hummingbirds feed on the nectar. From the pollinated flower follows the red fruit, which feeds many types of birds and other animals, such as squirrels, mule deer, raccoon, ringtail, band-tailed pigeon, American robin, varied thrush and Montezuma quail. Insects, such as the Brown Elfin caterpillar, use Arbutus menziesii’s leaves as a food source.
Leaves stay on the tree for two years, after which they turn orange and red and fall around June to July. The wood is used for a variety of things, such as furniture and carving; it is even safe as a wood for caged birds.
Arbutus are important trees that contribute to cliff and bluff stability. Their roots go deep, clear to bedrock, in search for water. Many of these trees are suffering in urban settings or being cut down for development. The bluffs over the water may become more susceptible to landslides as the trees are removed. Since Arbutus is one of the best trees to successfully grow in these arid conditions, we should work to save them from the ax, by educating developers and landowners of bluff sites the importance of keeping these trees.
Medicinally, Arbutus menziesii has many uses as an astringent. It is used as a tea for bladder infections, and as a sitz bath for other types of infections. The fruit can be made into jellies. The Salish of Vancouver Island used the bark to cook camas bulbs to turn them pinkish in color. Other indigenous tribes used it medicinally for colds and stomach problems, and even as a postpartum contraceptive.
Debra Teachout-Teashon
Photographed on the Kitsap and Olympic peninsulas in Washington state.
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