CORVALLIS, Ore. — Madrone, madrona, madroño, arbutus — wherever you live along the Pacific Coast, it’s the same tree: Arbutus menziesii.
Madrones often thrive where other trees struggle — in rocky, arid soil, on dry slopes, or even clinging to inhospitable roadside banks.
With its leathery evergreen leaves, smooth red bark that peels in curls, clusters of white flowers and bright reddish-orange berries, the madrone is one of the most distinctive and beloved native trees of the region.
Few trees are more closely tied to the Pacific Northwest landscape than the madrone. In Oregon, it’s the common name used for this native species.
“Madrones don’t take well to tending by overly conscientious gardeners,” said Dave Shaw, retired forest health specialist with the Oregon State University Extension Service.
Madrones often thrive where other trees struggle — in rocky, arid soil, on dry slopes, or even clinging to inhospitable roadside banks.
“If you do coax a madrone to grow in your garden, water it infrequently and deeply, if at all, once it’s well established,” Shaw advised.
If you have one growing successfully, you’ll notice it’s almost always shedding — leaves, bark, flowers or berries. But gardeners who’ve tried to transplant one without success know it’s a small price to pay for such a striking tree.
Transplanting tips: smaller is better
Madrones are notoriously difficult to transplant because they don’t tolerate root disturbance. To improve your odds, Shaw recommends buying the smallest plants you can find and handling them gently during planting. Avoid cramping the roots, and consider planting several seedlings at once — you can thin them later if too many survive.
One reason madrones are so challenging to transplant may be their dependence on mycorrhizal fungi — underground networks of fungal filaments that work symbiotically with plant roots. These filaments can increase the root system’s working surface area by as much as a thousandfold, helping trees absorb water and nutrients.
“If you can, plant your madrone seedling in soil collected from beneath a mature madrone, where mycorrhizal relationships already exist,” Shaw said. “That might give your tree a head start.”
Choose a naturalistic planting site
Madrones shed bark and leaves over several months in summer, so plant them where natural litter won’t be a problem. Avoid manicured landscapes. As long as the fallen leaves aren’t blackened by blight, let them dry and decompose in place to nourish the soil.
Managing leaf blight
Leaf blight, which appears as blackened leaves during winter, can be widespread. At least some of the fungi that cause it are now thought to be endemic. Fortunately, blight usually causes only cosmetic damage — new leaves emerge just before old ones drop.
To help reduce blight, remove fallen blackened leaves from the ground and from the tree as new leaves emerge. Over a few years, this can noticeably lessen the problem.
Irregular shapes and coastal character
Madrones often have irregular, sculptural growth forms, sending out long, bare limbs with clusters of leaves at the tips — especially when growing among taller trees that shade them. On rocky coastal outcrops, wind and exposure can stunt and twist them into dramatic, gnarled forms. With space and light, however, madrones can grow into classic shade trees with broad canopies and thick, straight trunks.
Whatever the shape, their smooth, peeling bark and vivid coloration make them instantly recognizable. The spring flowers attract pollinating insects, and their red berries feed many bird species — especially woodpeckers and thrushes — from late summer into fall. Though the berries are edible for humans, they’re generally bland.
Other species of Arbutus grow around the Mediterranean, but A. menziesii is found only along the Pacific Coast of North America, from northern California to southern British Columbia.
Previously titled Native madrones are special to the Northwest
