Arbutus menziesii

Identification

Genus: Arbutus Species: menziesii Variety: None Cultivar: None
Common name: Madrone.
 

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Description

Usually a small evergreen tree Madrone has peeling, reddish-brown bark, and red edible berries. Sometimes, in some areas, Madrone can become a real tree, but usually it looks more like a manzanita that grew big. Native to the coast ranges, Baja to British Columbia, and the northern Sierra Nevada. Madrone grows best in the shade of its forest companions, such as Quercus agrifolia, Quercus kelloggii, Lithocarpus densiflora, and Umbellularia californica, when it is young. It will tolerate morning sun in the interior. This plant seems to require some indirect summer water after establishment when it is grown in areas drier and hotter than its natural range. Preferring acid soil, (tolerates neutral soil) and good drainage, it is a slow grower when not happy. Seattle customers tell us they've seen 5 to 10 feet of growth each year, inland California it's more like inches. Ours also froze here at 0 degrees F. Birds usually get all the berries each year. In exposed areas they probably will freeze at 5 to 7 degrees F. This tree is grown in the southern part of England. In the areas I've seen it grows on ridges and slopes of good soils that receive 40-70 inches of rainfall per year. This tree needs to be mulched to assure its health and long life. If you have a north slope looking out over the bay or some of those canyons about Los Angels, this is a worthy specimen.

Available at our Online store.

Contact: pan@laspilitas.com
Container Size Quantity In Production Quantity For Purchase Unit-Price
One Gallon 248 0 $ 12.99

Available at our Santa Margarita store.

Contact: bawilson@laspilitas.com
Hours: Open Saturday only from 9am to 4pm
Address: 3232 Las Pilitas Rd. Santa Margarita, CA 93453
Container Size Quantity In Production Quantity For Purchase Unit-Price
One Gallon 110 138 $ 12.99
Five Gallon 0 0 $ 49.99

Available at our Escondido store.

Contact: escondido@laspilitas.com
Hours: Open Tuesday through Saturday from 9am to 4pm
Address: 8331 Nelson Way Escondido, CA 92026
Container Size Quantity In Production Quantity For Purchase Unit-Price
One Gallon 93 0 $ 12.99
Five Gallon 0 0 $ 49.99

Characteristics

Arbutus menziesii Madrone tolerates clay and serpentine.
Arbutus menziesii Madrone is great for a bird garden.
Arbutus menziesii Madrone's foliage color is reddish-green and type is evergreen.
Arbutus menziesii Madrone's flower color is white and is edible.
Arbutus menziesii Madrone's fruit is edible.

Communities

Communities for Arbutus menziesii Madrone:Chaparral, Mixed-evergreen Forest, Northern Oak Woodland, Redwood Forest, Southern Oak Woodland and Central Oak Woodland.

Ranges for Arbutus menziesii

ph: 4.00 to 7.00
usda: 7 to 10
height[m]: 5.00 to 25.00
width[m]: 5.00 to 15.00
rainfall[cm]: 80.00 to 134.00

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