Arbutus menziesii (Madrone)

Exquisite, Arbutus menziesii (Madrone) is a spreading evergreen tree with an elegant, wide-branching habit and leathery, lustrous dark green leaves, 6 in. long (15 cm). In spring, a profusion of drooping clusters of urn-shaped, white flowers hang at the tip of the branches. Rich in nectar, they attract hummingbirds, bees, and other pollinators. They are followed by small, brilliant red-orange fruit that ripen in the fall and may persist into early winter. The mealy berries are prime food for the birds. Strikingly attractive is the satiny smooth, reddish-brown bark which peels in thin flakes to reveal an attractive cinnamon-colored inner bark. Spectacular in all seasons, Madrone is one of the most beautiful broadleaf flowering evergreens.

• Grows up to 20-50 ft. tall and wide (6-15 m).
• Easily grown in average, acidic, moist, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Tolerates the widest variety of soils and climates, but appreciates good drainage. Drought tolerance once established.
• Great as a specimen plant, foundation plantings, Mediterranean gardens.
• Virtually disease free and pest free. Watch for aphids or leaf spot.
• Attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and birds.
• Propagate by seeds or softwood cuttings .
• Native to from British Columbia to southern California.