Pacific Madrone Tree Seeds | Madrona | (Arbutus menziesii)

The most beautiful bark in North America. The tree that does not survive being transplanted.

Arbutus menziesii, the Pacific Madrone, is the most visually striking native broadleaf evergreen tree in western North America, its smooth, cinnamon-red to orange bark peeling back in papery layers to reveal fresh green and cream beneath, changing color and texture through every season in a display unlike anything else in the temperate world. It grows naturally along the Pacific Coast from British Columbia to Baja California, always within sight or smell of the ocean, on dry rocky slopes and exposed ridges where few other trees compete. It is notoriously difficult to transplant from nursery containers, which is why growing it from seed and planting it small is the accepted method for successful establishment. If you are looking to buy Pacific Madrone seeds or grow this extraordinary native tree from seed, this is the most challenging and most rewarding broadleaf evergreen you can grow in a western garden.

• Smooth, peeling bark in shades of cinnamon, orange, green, and cream, incomparable in the temperate world
• Native broadleaf evergreen of the Pacific Coast, growing on dry rocky slopes with minimal care once established
• White urn-shaped flower clusters in spring followed by brilliant red-orange berries in fall
• Critical wildlife tree, berries eaten by band-tailed pigeons, bears, deer, and dozens of bird species
• Extremely difficult to transplant from nursery stock, growing from seed is the most reliable establishment method

Things you probably did not know about the Pacific Madrone

It is closely related to the strawberry tree of Mediterranean Europe. Arbutus menziesii belongs to the same genus as Arbutus unedo, the Strawberry Tree cultivated in European gardens for centuries. The two species separated when the Atlantic opened between North America and Europe millions of years ago and evolved independently, but the family resemblance in bark, flower, and fruit is immediately apparent to anyone who knows both.

The bark changes color depending on the season and the tree's age. Fresh bark exposed after peeling is bright green or yellow-green. Within weeks it turns orange-yellow, then deepens through cinnamon to mahogany red as it ages. A single Madrone tree in late summer can show all of these colors simultaneously on different parts of the trunk and branches, creating an effect that looks like it was painted rather than grown.

It cannot survive having its roots disturbed once established. Pacific Madrone has an extremely specific relationship with mycorrhizal fungi in its root system. Disturbance of the soil around established trees, even compaction from foot traffic, can disrupt this relationship fatally. Trees that are thriving in the wild fail to establish when transplanted from containers because the mycorrhizal community is disrupted in the process. This is why seed-grown trees planted in place from small containers succeed where nursery transplants fail.

Indigenous peoples across its range used every part of it. The bark was used as an astringent medicine for colds and stomach complaints. The berries were eaten fresh, dried, and fermented into a cider-like beverage. The wood, which is extremely hard and fine-grained, was used for tools, digging sticks, and fuel. The Madrone was one of the most fully utilized trees along the Pacific Coast.

Growing Details

• Botanical Name: Arbutus menziesii
• Stratification: Required, 60 to 90 days cold stratification
• USDA Zones: 7 to 9
• Soil: Well-drained, rocky, poor to moderate fertility, tolerates drought once established
• Light: Full sun
• Height: 20 to 80 feet
• Spread: 20 to 40 feet
• Growth Rate: Slow to moderate, 1 to 2 feet per year

Plant it small, disturb the roots as little as possible, and do not water it more than necessary once it is established. The reward is a tree that stops every person who sees it.