Madrone (Arbutus menziesii)
SKU:
$5.50
$5.50
per item
Description
MADRONE Single Plug $5.50
Mature Height: 30'-70'
Moisture: well-drained soil
Exposure: South or West exposure
Mature Height: 30'-70'
Moisture: well-drained soil
Exposure: South or West exposure
- A beautiful, elegant broad-leaved evergreen,
- Famous for it's smooth, reddish brown trunk, it's large evergreen leaves and small red berries.
- This native tree often grows on dry bluffs and poor soil, and the trunk often bends at graceful angles. It is superb as a single tree or in drifts.
Detailed factsheet here.
Habitat and Geographic Range: From Vancouver Island, British Columbia, south through the lowlands of the Cascades, sometimes found in the Sierra Nevada, through San Diego County and the southern California coastal mountains and finally to it's most southern growth area of Santa Cruz Island, the Pacific Madrone is always distinctive wherever it places it's roots. It's elevation choices are from sea level to 6,000 feet.
The environments where we find this beauty range from areas with average rainfall as much as 150 inches yearly to as little as 15 inches a year. As particular as it can be to establish, once it settles down to grow it will withstand high temperatures and drought to wet freezing conditions. Although it prefers some sun, it seems not to mind some partial shade.
Propagation: Nearly impossible to survive when dug in the wild.
Culture: Superb as a single tree or in drifts. Does best in a south or west exposure, well drained. Do not over-water or fertilize. Salal (Gaultheria shallon) does nicely below Madrone. Mainly disease resistant, the Madrone is sometimes afflicted with root rot, fungi or soot cankers.
Planting Tips: If you are planting one of these beauties in your garden, make sure you provide a well-drained spot to prevent root rot! A little shade is appreciated but not required by the Madrone. Besides visual impact, this tree will add more value to your property than any other native.
Though this is not the easiest tree to grow, start with a healthy and vigorous plant and be conscientious in planting. Poor, even rocky soil is fine, especially a bit on the acid side. Stake your young tree with plastic ties to give it a little extra support until it's well rooted. Some leaves will die in January - February but most will remain and soon new buds appear! As with all plants, keep your Madrone well groomed. Remove any sick leaves or branches with sanitized cutters.
Historical and Special Interest: A curious natural deer repellant is produced during the time when the leaves are young and attractive to our forest friends. A liquid containing reduced sugars is secreted just at the tip of the leaf bud which attracts ants and flies. The presence of these insects renders those succulent leaves unpalatable to deer.
The Pacific Madrone (Arbutus menziesii) is such a beautiful tree. Glossy green leaves and clusters of creamy white blooms that give way to bright red fruits are all exquisite characteristics. But the most famous of the Madrone's features is the cinnamon brown/red bark. The trunk and branches of this Northwest Native evergreen are wrapped in bark of an extraordinary color that peels away in summer to reveal lighter tan underneath.
Long favored by landscape artists, no two Madrone's are alike. Each trunk bends and twists in a style all it's own. Plant a group of three perhaps 2 feet apart--an excellent focal point in the landscape. Use stakes during the early years to keep these contortionists from going 'too much' horizontal.
This handsome evergreen tree is a delight to birds year-round. The blooms are veritable honey-pots that attract hummingbirds by the score.
Habitat and Geographic Range: From Vancouver Island, British Columbia, south through the lowlands of the Cascades, sometimes found in the Sierra Nevada, through San Diego County and the southern California coastal mountains and finally to it's most southern growth area of Santa Cruz Island, the Pacific Madrone is always distinctive wherever it places it's roots. It's elevation choices are from sea level to 6,000 feet.
The environments where we find this beauty range from areas with average rainfall as much as 150 inches yearly to as little as 15 inches a year. As particular as it can be to establish, once it settles down to grow it will withstand high temperatures and drought to wet freezing conditions. Although it prefers some sun, it seems not to mind some partial shade.
Propagation: Nearly impossible to survive when dug in the wild.
Culture: Superb as a single tree or in drifts. Does best in a south or west exposure, well drained. Do not over-water or fertilize. Salal (Gaultheria shallon) does nicely below Madrone. Mainly disease resistant, the Madrone is sometimes afflicted with root rot, fungi or soot cankers.
Planting Tips: If you are planting one of these beauties in your garden, make sure you provide a well-drained spot to prevent root rot! A little shade is appreciated but not required by the Madrone. Besides visual impact, this tree will add more value to your property than any other native.
Though this is not the easiest tree to grow, start with a healthy and vigorous plant and be conscientious in planting. Poor, even rocky soil is fine, especially a bit on the acid side. Stake your young tree with plastic ties to give it a little extra support until it's well rooted. Some leaves will die in January - February but most will remain and soon new buds appear! As with all plants, keep your Madrone well groomed. Remove any sick leaves or branches with sanitized cutters.
Historical and Special Interest: A curious natural deer repellant is produced during the time when the leaves are young and attractive to our forest friends. A liquid containing reduced sugars is secreted just at the tip of the leaf bud which attracts ants and flies. The presence of these insects renders those succulent leaves unpalatable to deer.
The Pacific Madrone (Arbutus menziesii) is such a beautiful tree. Glossy green leaves and clusters of creamy white blooms that give way to bright red fruits are all exquisite characteristics. But the most famous of the Madrone's features is the cinnamon brown/red bark. The trunk and branches of this Northwest Native evergreen are wrapped in bark of an extraordinary color that peels away in summer to reveal lighter tan underneath.
Long favored by landscape artists, no two Madrone's are alike. Each trunk bends and twists in a style all it's own. Plant a group of three perhaps 2 feet apart--an excellent focal point in the landscape. Use stakes during the early years to keep these contortionists from going 'too much' horizontal.
This handsome evergreen tree is a delight to birds year-round. The blooms are veritable honey-pots that attract hummingbirds by the score.
